Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Empirical Formula
The empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of elements in a compound. In the case of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), the empirical formula indicates a specific ratio of calcium, carbon, and oxygen. To determine if the rock sample is pure CaCO3, one must compare the mass percentages of the elements to the expected ratios in the empirical formula.
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Empirical vs Molecular Formula
Mass Percent Composition
Mass percent composition is the percentage by mass of each element in a compound. For CaCO3, the theoretical mass percentages are approximately 40% Ca, 12% C, and 48% O. The given mass percentages of the rock sample (51.3% Ca, 7.7% C, and 41.0% O) do not match these theoretical values, indicating that the sample cannot be pure CaCO3.
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Stoichiometry
Stoichiometry involves the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions based on the conservation of mass. It allows chemists to predict the amounts of substances consumed and produced in a reaction. In this context, stoichiometry helps to analyze the discrepancies in the mass percentages of the elements in the rock sample compared to those expected for pure CaCO3, leading to the conclusion that the sample contains other substances.
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