Answer:
The atomic weight in g/mole of the metal (molar mass) is 8.87.
Explanation:
To begin, it is possible to assume that, as a sample, it has 100 g of the compound. This means that:
- 52.92% metal: 52.92 g M
- 47.80% oxygen: 47.80 g O
Using the molar mass of oxygen, which is 16 g / mol, it is possible to calculate the amount of moles of oxygen present in the sample using the rule of three:
moles of oxygen=2.9875
The chemical formula of metal oxide tells you that:
2 M⁺³ + 3 O²⁻ ⇒ M₂O₃
In the previous equation you can see that you need 3 oxygen anions to react with two metal cations. Then:
You have 52.92 g of metal in the sample, then the molar mass of the metal is:
molar mass≅ 8.87 g/mol
<u><em> The atomic weight in g/mole of the metal (molar mass) is 8.87.</em></u>
The closest match to this value is Beryllium (Be), which has an atomic mass of 9.0122 g / mol.