Question

The percentage composition of acetic acid is found to be 39.9% c, 6.7% h, and 53.4% o. Determine the empirical formula of acetic acid.

Answer 1

Answer:

empirical formula is CH20

Explanation:

atomic ratio in mole 39.9÷12= 3.325

6.7÷1=6.7

53.4÷16=3.338

simplest ratio is

3.325÷3.325=1

6.7÷3.325=2.015

3.338÷3.325=1.004

ratio is 1:2:1

hence empirical formula is CH2O

Answer 2

Answer:

Explanation:

Here in this question, we have been given that the percentage composition of acetic acid is found to be 39.9% c,6.7%, and H,53.4%.g o.

We know that the empirical formula is the simplest whole-number ratio that defines constituent atoms in a species.

For finding the empirical formula of acetic acid we have to divide the percent composition of the acetic acid by the atomic mass of each constituent element.

So,

$\frac{39.9}{12.011. mol-1}$ = 3.32 . mol

$\frac{6.7.g}{1.0794.g.mol-1}$ = 6.65.mol

$\frac{53.4.g}{16.00.g.mol-1}$ = 3.34.mol

Now we will divide it by the lowest quotient (3.32) to get C:H:O = 1:2:1.

So the empirical formula of acetic acid is CH₂O