A crystalline compound when heated became anhydrous by losing 51.2 % of the mass. On analysis, the anhydrous compound gave the following percentage composition: Mg = 20.0 %, S = 26.66 % and O = 53.33 %, Calculate the molecular formula of the anhydrous compound and crystalline compound. The molecular mass of anhydrous compound is 120 u.

Answer

`MgSO_(4).7H_(2)O`

Explanation

Calculate the empirical formula of the anhydrous salt. It comes out to be `MgSO_(4).` E.F. mass
Mol. Mass = 120. Hence, molecular formula = `MgSO_(4)`.