Answer to Question #165634 in General Chemistry for Maddy Brown

Question

Give the empirical formula of each of the following compounds if a sample contains the following quantities of each element.

(A) 0.0334 mol C, 0.1000 mol H, and 0.0167 mol O

(I have tried C2H3O and it was incorrect)

Answer 1

(a) 0.0334 mol C, 0.1000 mol H and 0.0167 mol O

C = $\dfrac{0.0334}{0.1000}=0.334$

H = $\dfrac{0.1000}{0.1000}=1$

O = $\dfrac{0.0167}{0.1000}=0.167$

Multiplying by suitable integer 6

$C=0.334\times6=2.004\approx2$

$H=1\times6=6$

$O=0.167\times6=1.002\approx1$

Empirical Formula $=C_2H_6O$