Question

A acid found in tamarind on analysis shows the following percentages composition. : 32°/° carbon, 64 oxygen, and a4 hydrogen. Find the empirical formula for the compound

Answer 1

Answer:

The empirical formula is $C_{2}H_{3}O_{3}$.

Calculation:

We assume that 100%=100grams.

1. Carbon- 32% = 32g
2. Oxygen- 64% = 64g
3. Hydrogen- 4%= 4g

First, divide the mass of each element by its molar mass.

$C\\\frac{32}{12}\\ 2.67$                  $O\\\frac{64}{16}\\ 4$                 $H\\\frac{4}{1}\\ 4$

Second, divide the moles with the smallest mole.

$\frac{2.67}{2.67} \\1$                   $\frac{4}{2.67}\\1.5$              $\frac{4}{2.67}\\ 1.5$

Third, convert the decimal number to a whole number by multiplying it with 2.

$2$                       $3$                   $3$

The empirical formula will be $C_{2}H_{3}O_{3}$.

Answer 2

Answer:

The empirical formula is C_{2}H_{3}O_{3}C

2

H

3

O

3

.

Calculation:

We assume that 100%=100grams.

Carbon- 32% = 32g

Oxygen- 64% = 64g

Hydrogen- 4%= 4g

First, divide the mass of each element by its molar mass.

\begin{gathered}C\\\frac{32}{12}\\ 2.67\end{gathered}

C

12

32

2.67

\begin{gathered}O\\\frac{64}{16}\\ 4\end{gathered}

O

16

64

4

\begin{gathered}H\\\frac{4}{1}\\ 4\end{gathered}

H

1

4

4

Second, divide the moles with the smallest mole.

\begin{gathered}\frac{2.67}{2.67} \\1\end{gathered}

2.67

2.67

1

\begin{gathered}\frac{4}{2.67}\\1.5\end{gathered}

2.67

4

1.5

\begin{gathered}\frac{4}{2.67}\\ 1.5\end{gathered}

2.67

4

1.5

Third, convert the decimal number to a whole number by multiplying it with 2.

22 33 33

The empirical formula will be C_{2}H_{3}O_{3}C

2

H

3

O

3

.