Question

This is the chemical formula for acetic acid (the chemical that gives the sharp taste to vinegar): An analytical chemist has determined by measurements that there are moles of carbon in a sample of acetic acid. How many moles of oxygen are in the sample

Answer 1

Answer:

0.054 mol O

Explanation:

This is the chemical formula for acetic acid (the chemical that gives the sharp taste to vinegar): CH₃CO₂H. An analytical chemist has determined by measurements that there are 0.054 moles of carbon in a sample of acetic acid. How many moles of oxygen are in the sample?

Step 1: Given data

• Chemical formula of acetic acid: CH₃CO₂H

• Moles of carbon in the sample: 0.054 moles

Step 2: Establish the appropriate molar ratio

According to the chemical formula, the molar ratio of C to O is 2:2.

Step 3: Calculate the moles of oxygen in the sample

We will use the molar ratio to determine the moles of oxygen accompanying 0.054 moles of carbon.

0.054 mol C × (2 mol O/2 mol C) = 0.054 mol O