Question

A compound was decomposed and determined to be 51.27 % C, 7.75 % H and 40.98 % O by mass. What is the subscript for H in the empirical formula for this compound?

Answer 1

The subscript for H in the empirical formula for this compound is 3.

There are 3 steps involved in the construction of empirical formula.

Calculation of empirical formula is as under as ...

Step 1: Divide the % of each atoms which their atomic weights.

 C = 51.27 / 12 = 4.27

 H = 7.75 / 1 = 7.75

 O = 40.98 / 16 =2.56

Step 2 : Divide all the answers with the smallest answer to get the subscripts for empirical formula.

C = 4.27/ 2.56 ≈ 2

H = 7.75/ 2.56 ≈ 3

O = 2.56 /2.56 = 1

Step 3: Construction of empirical formula by putting subscripts calculated in step 2.

Empirical formula form given data = $C_{2} H_{3} O_{1}$

Thus , subscript for H in the empirical formula for this compound is 3.

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