Question

An alcohol is 70.57 % C and 5.935 % H by mass. The rest is oxygen. What is the empirical formula of the alcohol?

Answer 1

The empirical formula of the alcohol is C₄H₄O

To solve the question given above, we'll begin by calculating the percentage of oxygen in the compound. This can be obtained as follow:

Carbon (C) = 70.57 %

Hydrogen (H) = 5.935 %

Oxygen (O) =?

O = 100 – (C + H)

O = 100 – (70.57  + 5.935)

O = 100 – 76.505

O = 23.495%

Finally, we shall determine the empirical formula of the compound. This can be obtained as follow:

Carbon (C) = 70.57 %

Hydrogen (H) = 5.935 %

Oxygen (O) = 23.495%

Empirical formula =?

Divide by their molar mass

C = 70.57 / 12 = 5.881

H = 5.935 /1 = 5.935

O = 23.495 / 16 = 1.468

Divide by the smallest

C = 5.881 / 1.468 = 4

H = 5.935 / 1.468 = 4

O = 1.468 / 1.468 = 1

Therefore, the empirical formula of the alcohol is C₄H₄O

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