Based on experimental data showing that copper chloride contains copper and chlorine in a 1:2 molar ratio, what is the empirical formula of copper chloride?

• A. Cu2Cl
• B. CuCl
• C. CuCl2
• D. Cu2Cl2

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the given molar ratio of copper to chlorine from the experimental data, which is 1:2 (Cu:Cl = 1:2).
2. Recall that the empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a compound.
3. Express the ratio as subscripts in the chemical formula: since copper is 1 and chlorine is 2, write it as CuCl\_2.
4. Check if the subscripts can be simplified further by dividing both by a common factor; in this case, 1 and 2 have no common divisor other than 1, so the ratio is already in simplest form.
5. Conclude that the empirical formula of copper chloride based on the 1:2 molar ratio is CuCl\_2.