Answer to Question #119610 in General Chemistry for pooh

Question

A compound containing only C, H, and O, was extracted from the bark of the sassafras tree. The combustion of 63.3 mg produced 172 mg of CO2 and 35.2 mg of H2O. The molar mass of the compound was 162 g/mol. Determine its empirical and molecular formulas.

Answer 1

12 x172/44 = 47 mg C.

2 x 35.2/18 = 4 mg H.

63.3 - 47-4 = 12.3 mg O.

47/12: 4/1: 12.3/16 = 4 : 4 : 0.76875./0.76875 = 5:5:1.

C5H5O.

12 x 5 + 1 x 5 + 16 x 1 = 81.

162/81=2.

C10H10O2.