Question

40cm3 of hydrocarbon was exploded with 120cm3 of oxygen to give 80cm3 of CO2 determine the empirical formula of the hydrocarbon

Answer 1

1) The gases remaining after the reaction are CO₂ and O₂, otherwise the solution is not possible.

2) 120 – 80 = 40cm3 CO₂.

3) 50 cm3 O₂ left.

4) 120 – 40 = 80 cm3 O₂ reacted.

5) We compose the reaction equation:

6) 2CₓHᵧ + 7O₂ = 4CO₂ + 6 H₂O.

X=2; y=6; C₂H₆ - ethane.