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title: "A student heats a sample of cobalt metal in the presence of excess chlorine gas to synthesize an anhydrous ionic compound. The resulting product is analyzed and determined to contain \\(5.90 \\text{ g}\\) of \\(\\text{Co}\\) and \\(10.65 \\text{ g}\\) of \\(\\text{Cl}\\). Based on these data, what is the empirical formula of the compound, and what is the ground-state electron configuration of the transition metal cation in this compound?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123469/"
date_modified: "2026-09-28T11:59:52+00:00"
---

# A student heats a sample of cobalt metal in the presence of excess chlorine gas to synthesize an anhydrous ionic compound. The resulting product is analyzed and determined to contain \(5.90 \text{ g}\) of \(\text{Co}\) and \(10.65 \text{ g}\) of \(\text{Cl}\). Based on these data, what is the empirical formula of the compound, and what is the ground-state electron configuration of the transition metal cation in this compound?

A student heats a sample of cobalt metal in the presence of excess chlorine gas to synthesize an anhydrous ionic compound. The resulting product is analyzed and determined to contain \(5.90 \text{ g}\) of \(\text{Co}\) and \(10.65 \text{ g}\) of \(\text{Cl}\). Based on these data, what is the empirical formula of the compound, and what is the ground-state electron configuration of the transition metal cation in this compound?

- **A.** Empirical formula: \(\text{CoCl}_3\); Electron configuration: \([\text{Ar}]\,3d^6\)
- **B.** Empirical formula: \(\text{CoCl}_3\); Electron configuration: \([\text{Ar}]\,4s^2\,3d^4\)
- **C.** Empirical formula: \(\text{CoCl}_2\); Electron configuration: \([\text{Ar}]\,3d^7\)
- **D.** Empirical formula: \(\text{Co}_3\text{Cl}\); Electron configuration: \([\text{Ar}]\,4s^1\,3d^7\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123469/*