Answer:
The empirical formula of the compound with the data in the question is C2H6O
Explanation:
What we need to do here is to divide the individual masses of the elements by their atomic masses.
The atomic mass of oxygen is 16 a.m.u
The atomic mass of hydrogen is 1 a.m.u
The atomic mass of carbon is 12 a.m.u
Thus, we proceed as follows;
C = 0.783/12 = 0.06525
O = 0.521/16 = 0.0325625
H = 0.196/1 = 0.196
What is next here is to divide each of the values we have gotten above by the smallest value we have obtained. The smallest value we have obtained is that of oxygen which is 0.0325625
Hence, we have;
C = 0.06525/0.0325625 = 2.00
O= 0.0325625/0.0325625 = 1
H = 0.196/0.0325625 = 6
Thus, the empirical formula will be C2H6O
