Answer to Question #132075 in General Chemistry for Frederick Jude Palange

Question #132075
4. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a food-flavor enhancer, has been blamed for “Chinese restaurant syndrome,” the symptoms of which are headaches and chest pains. MSG has the following composition by mass: 35.51 percent C, 4.77 percent H, 37.85 percent O, 8.29 percent N, and 13.60 percent Na. What is its molecular formula if its molar mass is about 169 g?
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Expert's answer
2020-09-08T05:57:52-0400

For example, 100 g of MSG will contain 35.51/12.01 = 2.956 mol of C, 4.77/1.007 = 4.726 mol of H, 37.85/15.99 = 2.367 mol of O, 8.29/14.006 = 0.5918 mol of N, 13.60/22.98 = 0.5918 mol of Na.

Then all quantities will be divided by the smallest amount of moles.

2.9560.5918=5  C\frac{2.956}{0.5918} = 5\;C

4.7260.5918=8  H\frac{4.726}{0.5918} = 8\; H

2.3670.5918=4  O\frac{2.367}{0.5918} = 4\; O

0.59180.5918=1  N\frac{0.5918}{0.5918} = 1\; N

0.59180.5918=1  Na\frac{0.5918}{0.5918} = 1\; Na

So, the empirical formula is C5H8O4NNa.

The molar mass of the empirical formula will be calculated.

(5×12.01)+(8×1.007)+(4×15.99)+14.006+22.98=169.05  g/mol(5\times 12.01) + (8 \times1.007) + (4 \times 15.99) + 14.006 + 22.98 = 169.05 \;g/mol

The molecular formula of MSG is the same as the empirical formula C5H8O4NNa.

Answer: C5H8O4NNa

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