Question

Determine the empirical formula of a compound containing 48.38 grams of carbon, 8.12 grams of hydrogen, and 53.5 grams of oxygen.
In an experiment, the molar mass of the compound was determined to be 180.15 g/mol. What is the molecular formula of the compound?

For both questions, show your work or explain how you determined the formulas by giving specific values used in calculations.

Answer 1

Answer:

1. The empirical formula is CH2O

2. The molecular formula is C6H12O6

Explanation:

Data obtained from the question include:

Carbon (C) = 48.38g

Hydrogen (H) = 8.12g

Oxygen (O) = 53.5g

Molar Mass of the compound = 180.15 g/mol

1. The empirical formula can be obtained as follow:

C = 48.38g

H = 8.12g

O = 53.5g

Divide each by their molar mass

C = 48.38/12 = 4.032

H = 8.12/1 = 8.12

O = 53.5/16 = 3.344

Next, divide by the smallest

C = 4.032/3.344 = 1

H = 8.12/3.344 = 2

O = 3.344/3.344 = 1

Therefore, the empirical formula is CH2O.

2. The molecular formula is mostly a multiple of the empirical i.e

Molecular formula => [CH2O]n

Now, we need to find the value of 'n' in order to obtain the molecular formula.

From the question given, we were told that the molar mass of the compound is 180.15 g/mol. With this information, the molecular formula can be obtained as follow:

[CH2O]n = 180.15

[12 + (2x1) + 16]n = 180.15

[12 + 2 + 16]n = 180.15

30n = 180.15

Divide both side by the coefficient of n i.e 30

n = 180.15/30

n = 6

Therefore, the Molecular formula is

=> [CH2O]n

=> [CH2O]6

=> C6H12O6