Question

The rotten smell of a decaying animal carcass is partially due to a nitrogen-containing compound called putrescine. Elemental analysis of putrescine showed that it consisted of 54.50% X, 13.73% H, and 31.77% N. find empirical formula

Answer 1

Answer:

$C_2H_6N$

Explanation:

Hello,

In this case, considering the given percentages, we compute the mole ratios as shown below:

$n_C=\frac{0.545}{12}=0.0454\\n_H=\frac{0.1373}{1}=0.1373\\n_N=\frac{0.3177}{14}=0.0227$

Now, by dividing all the mole ratios by the smallest ratio, we obtain the subscripts for the required empirical formula as shown below:

$C=\frac{0.0454}{0.0227} =2\\H=\frac{0.1373}{0.0227}=6\\N=\frac{0.0227}{0.0227}=1$

Therefore, the empirical formula turns out:

$C_2H_6N$

Best regards.