Empirical Formula of Vanadium Oxide

Vanadium oxide can have several different molecular formulas depending on the oxidation state of vanadium. The oxide of V+5 is used in producing corrosion resistant steel and as a catalyst in the production of various chemicals including sulfuric acid.

Two samples were sent for analysis from drums with missing labels. The samples were both vanadium oxides but with different oxidation numbers and different mass proportions. The samples were reacted with a reducing agent so that pure vanadium metal was produced as a product of the reaction. Using the following data, calculate the respective empirical formulas and identify the V+5 sample. Show your calculations.
 

 

Sample A
grams
 

Sample B
grams
Initial Mass
of Oxide
0.8893 
0.7854
Mass of pure Vanadium
in Product
0.4981
0.5339


© Copyright 1998-2000 R.J. Rusay