Question

Isopentyl acetate is the molecule largely responsible for the aroma and taste of bananas. It is made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Combustion of a 3.256-g sample of isopentyl acetate produces 7.706 g CO2 and 3.156 g H2O. Using these results, what is the correct empirical formula for isopentyl acetate?

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

7.706 g of CO₂ will contain 12 x 7.706 / 44 g of C

= 2.1 g of C .

This will be contained in 3.256 g of isopentyl acetate

3.156 g of H₂O will contain 2 x 3.156 / 18 g of H

= .351 g of H

This will be contained in 3.256 g of isopentyl acetate

Rest will be oxygen

amount of oxygen in 3.256 g of isopentyl acetate

= 3.256 - ( 2.1 + .351 )

= .805 g

ratio of C , H , O in isopentyl acetate

= 2.1 g : .351 g : .805 g

2.1 / 12 : .351 / 1 : 0.805 / 16 ratio of moles

= .175 : .351 : .05  ratio of moles

= 3.5 : 7.02: 1

= 7 : 14 : 2

empirical formula of  isopentyl acetate

= C₇ H₁₄ O₂ .