Question

Acetic acid weighs 60g contains 40% carbon, 6.67% hydrogen, and 55.33% oxygen. Calculate it’s molecular formula.

Answer 1

C₂H₄O₂ is the molecular formula of acetic acid

Explanation:

Acetic acid have a molecular wight of 60 g/mol.

The correct mass percentages for acetic acid are 40% carbon, 6.67% hydrogen and 53.33 % oxygen.

To find the molecular formula knowing the elements mass percentages we use the following algorithm:

we divide each percentage by the atomic weight of the element

for carbon 40 / 12 = 3.33

for hydrogen 6.67 / 1 = 6.67

for oxygen 53.33 / 16 = 3.33

now we divide each value obtained by the smallest value, which is 3.33

for carbon 3.33 / 3.33 = 1

for hydrogen 6.67 / 3.33= 2

for oxygen 3.33 / 3.33 = 1

empirical formula for acetic acid is CH₂O

molecular formula for acetic acid is (CH₂O)ₓ

30x g/mol = 60 g/mol (given by the problem)

x = 2

so the molecular formula for acetic acid is C₂H₄O₂

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