Question

Caffeine, a stimulant found in coffee and soda, has the following elemental composition: 49.48% carbon, 5.19% hydrogen, 16.48% oxygen and 28.85% nitrogen. The molar mass of caffeine is 119.19 g/mol. Determine the molecular formula of caffeine.

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

C = 49.48

H = 5.19

O = 16.48

N = 28.85

ratio of moles

= 49.48 / 12 : 5.19 / 1 : 16.48 / 16 : 28.85 / 14

= 4.123 : 5.19 : 1.03 : 2.06

= 4 : 5 : 1 : 2

so the empirical formula = C₄ H₅O N₂

Let molecular formula = (  C₄ H₅ON₂ )ₙ ,

n ( 48 + 5 + 16 + 28 ) = 119.19

97 n = 194.19

n = 2 ( approx )

molecular formula = C₈ H₁₀O₂ N₄