Question

An organic compound contains carbon 38.7 1% hydrogen 9.67 percent and oxygen the empirical formula of the compound would be

Answer 1

Toolbox:

Step 1. If you have masses go onto step 2. If you have % composition of the elements. Assume the mass to be 100g, so the % becomes grams.

Step 2. Determine the moles of each element.

Step 3. Determine the mole ratio by dividing each elements no. of moles by the smallest value from step 2.

Step 4. Double, triple, … to get an integer if they are not all whole numbers

Hence the empirical formula of the compound would be CH3O