Question

Ascorbic acid contains 40.92% carbon, 4.58% Hydrogen and 54.5% oxygen the empirical formula will be?

Answer 1

Remember that percent means “parts per 100.” Therefore, if we simply assume that we have a 100-g quantity of compound, the percents converts to specific masses as follows.

Given that  

C= 40.92 % H=4.58  , O= 54.5  

There fore C= 40.92 g

H= 4.58 g

O = 54.5 g

Moles of C = 40.92 g/ 12.01 g/ mole= 3.41 mole

Mole H = 4.58/1.008= 4.54

Mole O = 54.5/16= 3.41

Molar ratio  

C: 3.41/3.41=1.00

H = 4.54/3.41=1.33

O = 3.41/3.41=1.00

To covert whole number multiply by 6:

C: 1.00= 6

H :1.337.98 or8

O :1.00=6

Empirical formula C6H8O6