Based on the data below, what is the empirical formula of compound Q?

Question

Two new and previously unidentified elements have been discovered, elements X and Y. Elements X and Y are known to form into two compounds X2Y3 and a second compound, which is purely composed of the two new elements, compound Q. The stoichiometry of compound Q is as yet unknown but chemical analyses have been recently performed. Based on the data below, what is the empirical formula of compound Q?

Table:

X2Y3, Mass of X: 38.30 g, Mass of Y: 24.2 g

XaYb, Mass of X: 64.60 g, Mass of Y: 54.42 g

I got X1Y2 but not sure if this is correct.

Answer 1

Law of Multiple Proportions:

For X₂Y₃ we have 38.30 g X / 24.2 g Y = 1.58 g X / g Y

For X_aY_b we have 64.60 g X / 54.42 g Y = 1.19 g X / g Y

1.58 / 1.19 = 1.33 and to get this to whole number ratio it would be 4/3

Ratio of X in the two compounds is 1:1 and ratio of Y in the two compounds is 4:3

This gives us X₂Y₄ or...

Empirical formula would thus be XY₂ so I agree with your answer