Question

A compound that contains only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen is 58.80%  and 9.87%  by mass. What is the empirical formula of this substance?

(Enter the elements in the order: C, H, O.)

Answer 1

Carbon is 58.80% means 58.8 grams & Hydrogen is 9.87% means 9.87 grams

carbon = 58.8 g

hydrogen = 9.87 g

oxygen = 100 - ( 58.8 + 9.87 ) = 31.33 g

first find the moles and then from the moles find the ratio after that predict the number of each element and the emperical formula is as follows

mole ratio =>                  carbon                        hydrogen                 oxygen

                                     58.8 / 12                            9.87 / 1                        31.33 / 16

                                      4.9                                        9.87                          1.958

                                  4.9 / 1.958                           9.87 / 1.958               1.958/1.958

                                           2.5                                       5                               1

the emperical formula is => C_2.5H₅O but here the value is in fraction then convert into the integer value by multiply with 2

=> (C_2.5H₅O) * 2

=> C₅H₁₀O₂

answer => empirical formula is C₅H₁₀O₂