A certain metal sulfide, MS2, is used extensively as a high-temperature lubricant. If MS2 is 40.06% sulfur by mass, what is the identity of the metal M?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand that the problem is asking for the identity of the metal M in the compound MS2. The compound is 40.06% sulfur by mass, which means the remaining 59.94% is the metal M.
2. Step 2: Use the atomic mass of sulfur, which is approximately 32.06 g/mol. Since there are two sulfur atoms in the compound, the total mass of sulfur in the compound is 2 * 32.06 g/mol = 64.12 g/mol.
3. Step 3: Calculate the total molar mass of the compound. Since the compound is 40.06% sulfur, the total molar mass of the compound is 64.12 g/mol / 0.4006 = X g/mol, where X is the molar mass of the compound.
4. Step 4: Subtract the total mass of sulfur in the compound from the total molar mass of the compound to find the molar mass of the metal M. This is X g/mol - 64.12 g/mol = Y g/mol, where Y is the molar mass of the metal.
5. Step 5: Use the periodic table to identify the metal M. The metal M is the element with a molar mass closest to Y g/mol.

Key Concepts

Molar Mass and Percent Composition

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, typically expressed in grams per mole. Percent composition refers to the percentage by mass of each element in a compound. In this case, knowing that MS2 is 40.06% sulfur allows us to calculate the molar mass of the entire compound and subsequently determine the mass of the metal M.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the area of chemistry that deals with the relationships between the quantities of reactants and products in chemical reactions. In this problem, stoichiometry helps us understand the ratio of sulfur to the metal M in the compound MS2, which is crucial for calculating the molar mass and identifying the metal.

Periodic Table and Element Identification

The periodic table organizes elements based on their atomic number and properties. By calculating the molar mass of MS2 and knowing the mass contribution from sulfur, we can identify the metal M by comparing the calculated mass of M to the atomic masses of known elements in the periodic table, allowing us to determine its identity.