which represents the empirical formula for a3b9

less than a minute read 27-02-2025

which represents the empirical formula for a3b9

Determining the Empirical Formula for A₃B₉

The empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a compound. Let's figure out the empirical formula for the compound A₃B₉.

Understanding Empirical Formulas

An empirical formula shows the ratio of elements in a compound in its simplest form. It doesn't necessarily reflect the actual number of atoms in a molecule (that's the molecular formula). To find the empirical formula, we need to find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the subscripts.

Finding the GCD for A₃B₉

In the formula A₃B₉, the subscripts are 3 and 9. The greatest common divisor of 3 and 9 is 3.

Calculating the Empirical Formula

To find the empirical formula, we divide each subscript by the GCD:

A: 3 / 3 = 1
B: 9 / 3 = 3

Therefore, the empirical formula for A₃B₉ is AB₃. This means for every one atom of A, there are three atoms of B in the simplest ratio.

Example: Applying this to Real Compounds

While A and B are placeholders here, this principle applies to real chemical compounds. For instance, if A represented aluminum (Al) and B represented chlorine (Cl), the compound Al₃Cl₉ would have an empirical formula of AlCl₃ (aluminum chloride).

Key takeaway

The empirical formula simplifies the representation of the ratio of elements within a compound. By finding the greatest common divisor of the subscripts, we can easily determine the simplest whole-number ratio, providing a concise representation of the compound's composition. In the case of A₃B₉, the empirical formula is AB₃.