Question

A sample of an unknown compound has a percent composition of 52.14% carbon, 13.13% hydrogen, and 34.73% oxygen. Which compounds could
the sample be?
CH3CH3CH202
C2H5OH
C4H10o2
C4h12o2 and ch3ch3ch2ooh

Answer 1

Answer:

C₄H₁₀O₂

Explanation:

Parameters given:

Percentage composition of Carbon = 52.14%

                                               Hydrogen = 13.13%

                                               Oxygen = 34.73%

From the given data, we can simply obtain the empirical formula of the compound which is the simplest formula of the compound. From the empirical formula, we can check other combining ratios of the compound.

To find the empirical formula of the compound:

• we first find the moles of the elements in the compound by dividing the mass percentages by the atomic mass of the atoms
• we then divide through by the smallest number of moles
• approximate the result or multiply through by the a factor to give a whole number ratio.

Solution

                                                              C                        H                      O

% mass of elements                        52.14                   13.13                34.73

Moles                                               52.14/12              13.13/1            34.73/16

                                                           4.345                 13.13                 2.171

Dividing by the smallest              4.345/ 2.171       13.13/2.171         2.171/2.171

                                                                 2                        6                        1

The empirical formula of the compound is expressed as C₂H₆O

The molecular formula would be any factor that would give whole number ratios. The simplest number would be 2:

Molecular formula = 2(C₂H₆O) = C₄H₁₂O₂