<u>Answer:</u> The empirical and molecular formula for the given organic compound is CH and and it is not an alkane.
<u>Explanation:</u>
The chemical equation for the combustion of hydrocarbon having carbon and hydrogen follows:
where, 'x' and 'y' are the subscripts of Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen respectively.
We are given:
Mass of
Mass of
We know that:
Molar mass of carbon dioxide = 44 g/mol
Molar mass of water = 18 g/mol
<u>For calculating the mass of carbon:</u>
In 44 g of carbon dioxide, 12 g of carbon is contained.
So, in 0.364 g of carbon dioxide, of carbon will be contained.
<u>For calculating the mass of hydrogen:</u>
In 18 g of water, 2 g of hydrogen is contained.
So, in 0.0596 g of water, of hydrogen will be contained.
To formulate the empirical formula, we need to follow some steps:
- <u>Step 1:</u> Converting the given masses into moles.
Moles of Carbon =
Moles of Hydrogen = ]
- <u>Step 2:</u> Calculating the mole ratio of the given elements.
For the mole ratio, we divide each value of the moles by the smallest number of moles calculated which is 0.0067 moles.
For Carbon =
For Hydrogen =
- <u>Step 3:</u> Taking the mole ratio as their subscripts.
The ratio of C : H = 1 : 1
The empirical formula for the given compound is CH
For determining the molecular formula, we need to determine the valency which is multiplied by each element to get the molecular formula.
The equation used to calculate the valency is:
We are given:
Mass of molecular formula = 128.2 g/mol
Mass of empirical formula = 13 g/mol
Putting values in above equation, we get:
Multiplying this valency by the subscript of every element of empirical formula, we get:
The general formula of an alkane is , where n = any natural number
Here, n = 10 and it does not satisfy being an alkane
Hence, the empirical and molecular formula for the given organic compound is CH and and it is not an alkane.