Au theヽ ″

dЮ gCn in the water comcs from the hydЮ carbon A.

More significant figures are carried
through in subsequent calculations.
numbcr OfmOles ofH20=艦 =0・ 147m01

Each H2O molecule contains two hydrogen atoms, so the number of moles of hydrogen in 2.649 of H2O is
2x0.147:0.293mol.Therefore, the number of moles of hydrogen in 2.50g of the hydrocarbon is 0.293mol.The
empirical formula and molecular formula can now be calculated.

C H

number of moles 0.184 0.293

divide by smaller 0.184/0。 184 0.293/0.184
ratio 1.00 1.60

The empirical formula must be a ratio of whole numbers, and this can be obtained by multiplying each number
by five.Therefore the empirical formula is C5Hs.

L.14 An organic compound, B, contains only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.When 1.46g of B burns in excess
oxygen,2.79g of carbon dioxide and 1.719 of water are formed.
a 'What is the empirical formula of B?
b If the relative molecular mass is 92.76,what is the molecular formula of B?

a The difiiculty here is that the mass of oxygen in B cannot be worked out in the same way as the previous
example, as only some of the oxygen in the CO2 and H2O comes from the oxygen in B (the rest comes from
thc Oxygen in which itis burntl.

mass ofcarbOn in 2.79g of(〕 (D2=器 ×2.79=0.76g

mass ofhydrOgen in l.71g ofH20=18.02× Note:2.02 as there are 2 H atoms

1・ 71=0.19g
in a water molecule
mass of oxygen in l.46g ofB is(1.46-0.76-0.19)=0.51g

The cmpirical fOrmula can nOw be calculated.

C H 0
mass / g 0,76 0。 19 0.51

moles/mol 0.063 0.19 0.032

ratio 2 6 1

Therefore the empirical formula is C2H6O.

The empirical formula mass is 46.08.

92.16 _^
_L

46.08

Therefore, the molecular formula is (CzHoO)2, i.e. C aHa2O 2.