Phosgene, a poisonous gas used during WWI, is composed of 12.1% C, 16.2% O, and 71.1% Cl. What is the empirical formula of phosgene

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The empirical formula of phosgene can be determined by finding the smallest whole-number ratio of atoms in the compound. To do this, we need to convert the percentages to moles. Assume we have 100 g of the compound, then we have 12.1 g C, 16.2 g O, and 71.1 g Cl. Converting to moles using their respective atomic masses, we have 1.008 mol C, 1.0125 mol O, and 2.008 mol Cl. Dividing each value by the smallest number of moles (1.008), we get the mole ratio of C:O:Cl as 1:1:2. Therefore, the empirical formula of phosgene is COCl. The correct answer is D.

Phosgene, a Poisonous Gas Used During WWI, Is Composed of 12.1