Question

Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the CHO compound had a molar mass of 180 g/mol. What is the molecular formula for this compound?

Answer 1

Answer: The molecular formula of compound is $C_6H_6O_6$

Explanation:

We are given:

Empirical formula of compound = CHO

For determining the molecular formula, we need to determine the valency which is multiplied by each element to get the molecular formula.

The equation used to calculate the valency is :

$n=\frac{\text{Molecular mass}}{\text{Empirical mass}}$

We are given:

Mass of molecular formula = 180 g/mol

Mass of empirical formula = 29 g/mol

Putting values in above equation, we get:

$n=\frac{180g/mol}{29g/mol}=6.20\approx 6$

Multiplying this valency by the subscript of every element of empirical formula, we get:

$C_{(1\times 6)}H_{(1\times 6)}O_{(1\times 6)}=C_6H_6O_6$

Hence, the molecular formula of compound is $C_6H_6O_6$