A sample of Freon was found to contain 3.21 g of C, 19.0 g of Cl, and 10.2 g F. What is the empirical formula of this compound?

Question

C0.0352Cl0.0705F0.0705

C0.5ClF

C2Cl4F4

CCl2F2

CClF

Answer 1

mols C = 3.21/atomic mass C = ?
moles Cl = 19.0/atomic mass Cl = ?
moles F = 10.2/atomic mass F = ?
Now find the ratio of the elements to each other with the smallest number being 1.000. The easy way to do that is to divide the smallest number by itself which automatically makes it 1.000, then divide the other numbers by the same small number, then round to whole number. That will give you the empirical formula.