Answer:
C₄H₁₀O₂
Explanation:
Parameters given:
Percentage composition of Carbon = 52.14%
Hydrogen = 13.13%
Oxygen = 34.73%
From the given data, we can simply obtain the empirical formula of the compound which is the simplest formula of the compound. From the empirical formula, we can check other combining ratios of the compound.
To find the empirical formula of the compound:
- we first find the moles of the elements in the compound by dividing the mass percentages by the atomic mass of the atoms
- we then divide through by the smallest number of moles
- approximate the result or multiply through by the a factor to give a whole number ratio.
Solution
C H O
% mass of elements 52.14 13.13 34.73
Moles 52.14/12 13.13/1 34.73/16
4.345 13.13 2.171
Dividing by the smallest 4.345/ 2.171 13.13/2.171 2.171/2.171
2 6 1
The empirical formula of the compound is expressed as C₂H₆O
The molecular formula would be any factor that would give whole number ratios. The simplest number would be 2:
Molecular formula = 2(C₂H₆O) = C₄H₁₂O₂
