The element forms the highest oxide RO2; in a volatile hydrogen compound, the mass fraction of hydrogen

The element forms the highest oxide RO2; in a volatile hydrogen compound, the mass fraction of hydrogen is 25%. Define this element.

If the higher oxide of the element has the formula EO2, then we can assume that this element has a valency of 4, which means that it has 4 electrons on the outer electron layer. Oxygen, acting as an oxidizing agent, pulls them away and the element exhibits an oxidation state of +4.

It turns out that the sought element has 4 electrons at the outer level and 4 places for electrons are free at the initial p-sublevel.

At the same time, in compounds with hydrogen, this element will itself act as an oxidizing agent. He will strive to fill his external electronic level with up to 8 electrons, i.e. will accept 4 missing electrons from hydrogen and its oxidation state will become -4. But each hydrogen atom has only one electron, which means there will be 4 hydrogen atoms in the hydrogen compound. The hydrogen compound will have the formula EN4.

Let’s find the mass of the hydrogen compound. Atomic mass of hydrogen = 1. Mass of hydrogen in the compound = 4. Mass fraction of hydrogen in the compound = 0.25, so you can find the molar mass of the compound:

M (EN4) = 4 / 0.25 = 16

We have already found out that the mass of hydrogen in the compound is 4, which means that the mass of the desired element accounts for 16 – 4 = 12.With a relative atomic mass of 12 in the fourth group of the periodic table, we find the element carbon – C.

The higher oxide will have the formula CO2 – carbon dioxide, and the volatile hydrogen compound – CH4 – methane.



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