Question

Question 10:

The NASA Dawn mission recently measured the surface of Ceres, a large asteroid between Mars and Jupiter. It found traces of organic material. The composition of one of the organic materials is: 37.46% carbon, 12.59% hydrogen and 49.95% oxygen. What is the empirical formula of this organic compound? 7 marks

Answer 1

H O (= 37.46 % 12.59./ 49.951 suppose ime have loog of total sample then 0:42.959 Simplest satio 3-122/3-122= 1.0 (= 37.46 g H= 12.59 g No of moles C = 37.469 = 3-122 12 g/mol H = 12.59g Iglamol 1:4:1 = 12.59 12.59 59 3.122 = 4.0 0 = 49.95g = 3.122 og/mol 3.122/3-122, 10 16. so, Empherical formula is CHAO