Answer
The formula of the compound is $NaHCO_3$
Work Step by Step
Let's assume we have 100 grams of the common product.
$massof sodium=total mass\times percent mass sodium=100\times\frac{27.37}{100}=27.37g$
$massof hydrogen=total mass\times percent mass hydrogen=100\times\frac{1.2}{100}=1.2g$
$massof carbon=total mass\times percent mass carbon=100\times\frac{14.3}{100}=14.3g$
$massof oxygen=total mass\times percent mass oxygen=100\times\frac{57.14}{100}=57.14g$
We then calculate the number of moles using the formula:
$Number of moles=\frac{mass}{molecular mass}$
$Number of moles of sodium=\frac{27.37}{23}=1.19mol$
$Number of moles of hydrogen=\frac{1.2}{1}=1.2mol$
$Number of moles of carbon=\frac{14.3}{12}=1.19mol$
$Number of moles of oxygen=\frac{57.14}{16}\approx3.57mol$
We then divide the number of moles of each element with the lowest number of moles to find the number of atoms in the simplest formula:
$Number of sodium=\frac{1.19}{1.19}=1$
$Number of hydrogen=\frac{1.2}{1.19}\approx1$
$Number of carbon=\frac{1.19}{1.19}=1$
$Number of oxygen=\frac{3.57}{1.19}=3$
The simplest formula contains 1 sodium 1 hydrogen 1 carbon and 3 oxygen
Simplest formula: $NaHCO_3$
Since the simplest formula is the same as the formula of the compound. So, the formula of the compound is $NaHCO_3$
