The percent composition of artificial snow is 38.3 % C, 3.22 %H, 24.4 % Na, and the remainder is oxygen. Determine the empirical formula for artificial snow.

C₃H₃NaO₂

Explanation:

The percentage composition of the artificial snow is given.

The smallest whole number ratio of the atoms in a compound gives the empirical formula.

To find the empirical formula of the artificial snow, we use the method below;

Percentage composition of oxygen  = 100 - (38.3+3.33+ 24.4) = 33.97

Elements                            C                     H              Na             O

Percentage

Composition                   38.3                   3.22         24.4          33.97

Number of

moles                           38.3/12                  3.22/1     24.4/23     33.97/16

                                       3.19                     3.22        1.06             2.12

Divide by

the smallest               3.19/1.06                3.22/1.06  1.06/1.06     2.12/1.06

                                        3                             3               1                2

The empirical formula of the compound is C₃H₃NaO₂

since the atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus, as we move to the left on the periodic table, the electrostatic pull between the nucleus and the valence electron shell decreases. as we move down a group (vertical column), the valence shell energy level gets further and further from the nucleus.