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Ch.3 - Molecules, Compounds & Chemical Equations
Chapter 3, Problem 138

Vanadium forms four different oxides in which the percent by mass of vanadium is, respectively, (a) 76%, (b) 68%, (c) 61%, and (d) 56%. Determine the formula and the name of each oxide.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Percent by Mass

Percent by mass is a way to express the concentration of a component in a mixture or compound. It is calculated by dividing the mass of the component by the total mass of the mixture and multiplying by 100. In this context, understanding the percent by mass of vanadium in each oxide is crucial for determining the empirical formulas of the compounds.
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Empirical Formula

The empirical formula of a compound represents the simplest whole-number ratio of the elements present. To derive the empirical formula from percent by mass, one must convert the percentages to moles and then simplify the ratio of the moles of each element. This concept is essential for identifying the chemical formulas of the vanadium oxides based on their mass percentages.
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Oxidation States

Oxidation states indicate the degree of oxidation of an atom in a compound, reflecting the number of electrons lost or gained. Vanadium can exhibit multiple oxidation states, which influences the types of oxides it can form. Understanding these oxidation states is key to naming the oxides correctly, as they determine the stoichiometry and the resulting chemical formulas.
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