Question

a compound of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen contains 52.2 % of carbon, 13 % of hydrogen. Determine it's empirical formula​

Answer 1

Answer:

C2H6O is the formula

Answer 2

Answer:

Carbon = 52.2%

Hydrogen = 13%

Oxygen = 100 - (52.2+13)

= 100 - 65.2

= 34.8%

Relative no.of moles

Carbon = Percentage/Atomic Mass

= 52.2/12

= 4.35

Hydrogen = Percentage/Atomic Mass

= 13/1

= 13

Oxygen = Percentage/Atomic Mass

= 34.8/16

= 2.17

Simple Whole no. Ratio

Here we choose the lowest number of the relative no.of moles as the denominator.

Oxygen = 2.17 is the lowest

Carbon = 4.35/2.17

= 2.004

= 2 (approx.)

Hydrogen = 13/2.17

= 5.991

= 6 (approx.)

Oxygen = 2.17/2.17

= 1

Therefore the number of Carbon is 2, number of Hydrogen is 6 and number of Oxygen is 1

C2H6O is the Empirical Formula

C2H6O is also written as C2H5OH which is the chemical formula of Ethanol