Oxalic Acid, a compound found in plants and vegetables such as rhubarb, has a mass percent composition of 26.7% C, 2.24% H, and 71.1% O. Oxalic acid can interfere with respiration and cause kidney or bladder stones. If a large quantity of rhubarb leaves is ingested, the oxalic acid can be toxic. The lethal dose (LD50) in rats for oxalic acid is 375 mg/kg. Rhubarb leaves contain about 0.5% by mass of oxalic acid. (Show your work, using the insert equation tool :) What is the empirical formula of oxalic acid

HCO₂

Explanation:

From the information given:

The mass of the elements are:

Carbon C = 26.7 g;     Hydrogen H = 2.24 g     Oxygen O = 71.1 g

To determine the empirical formula;

First thing is to find the numbers of moles of each atom.

For Carbon:

For Hydrogen:

For Oxygen:

Now; we use the smallest no of moles to divide the respective moles from above.

For carbon:

For Hydrogen:

For Oxygen:

Thus, the empirical formula is HCO₂

explanation:

let the different atoms be x and y. each with four protons and same mass will be represented as follows.

mass number is number of protons + number of neutrons.

            and  

since, it is given that one has a negative charge while the other is neutral. therefore, there will be increase in number of protons and the atom will be represented as follows.

according to periodic table, mass number of beryllium is 9 and it has atomic number 4 so, the atoms will be and .  

the protons and neutrons will be located inside the nucleus whereas the electrons will be revolving around the nucleus.