Answer:
The empirical formula is C8H8O3
Explanation:
Step 1: Data given
Suppose mass of the compound X is 100.00 grams
Carbon = 63.2% = 63.2 grams
Hydrogen = 5.31 % = 5.31 grams
Oxygen = 31.6 % = 31.6 grams
Molar mass of carbon = 12 g/mol
Molar mass of hydrogen = 1.01 g/mol
Molar mass of oxygen = 16 g/mol
Step 2: Calculate moles
Moles = Mass / molar mass
Moles carbon = 63.2 grams / 12 g/mol = 5.25 moles
Moles hydrogen = 5.31 grams / 1.01 g/mol = 5.25 moles
Moles oxygen : 31.6 grams / 16 g/mol ≈ 2 moles
If we multiply all by 1.5 we get the empirical formule of C8H8O3
The molar mass of the empirical formula = 152.08 g/mol
We can control this by calculating the mass %
C = ((8*12)/152.08) * 100% = 63.1 %
H = (8.08 /152.08)*100%= 5.30 %
O = ((3*16)/152.08)*100% = 31.6
