Answer to Question #97182 in Inorganic Chemistry for Vicky

Question

A liquid, Y, of molar mass 44 g/mol contains 54.5% carbon, 36.4% oxygen, and 9.1% hydrogen.
Calculate the empirical formula of Y

Answer 1

Molar mass of the compound 44gm

Let us consider one mole of the compound present in the solution

Among that 54.5% carbon present by weight thus carbon present 23.98gm almost 24 gm thus 2 mol of carbon present

36.4 % oxygen present by weight thus oxygen present16 gm thus 1 mole atomic oxygen present

9.1% hydrogen present by weight = 4.004 gm thus 4 mole atomic oxygen present

Thus empirical formula C₂H₄O