QQuestionChemistry
QuestionChemistry
What is the empirical formula of a compound that contains 40 percent carbon, 6.7 percent hydrogen, and 53.3 percent oxygen?
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Answer
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Step 1:: Determine the number of moles of each element in the compound.
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To find the empirical formula, we first need to determine the number of moles of each element in the compound. We are given the percent composition of the compound. First, convert the percentages to mass in grams for a 100 -gram sample of the compound. Now, convert the mass of each element to moles using the molar masses of carbon (12.01 g/mol), hydrogen (1.01 g/mol), and oxygen (16.00 g/mol).
Step 2:: Find the simplest whole-number ratio of moles for each element.
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To find the empirical formula, divide each of the calculated mole values by the smallest number of moles calculated in Step 1 (which is for carbon, with 3.33 moles).
Step 3:: Write the empirical formula.
Since the simplest whole-number ratio of moles for carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen is 1:2:1, the empirical formula for the compound is:
Final Answer
The empirical formula is CH^2O.
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