g a compound containing only carbon and hydrogen produces 1.80 gCO2 and 0.738 gH2O. Find the empirical formula of the compound. Express your answer as an empirical formula.

Respuesta :

Answer: The empirical formula for the given compound is [tex]CH_2[/tex]

Explanation:

The chemical equation for the combustion of hydrocarbon having carbon, hydrogen and oxygen follows:

[tex]C_xH_y+O_2\rightarrow CO_2+H_2O[/tex]

where, 'x' and 'y' are the subscripts of Carbon and hydrogen respectively.

We are given:

Mass of [tex]CO_2=1.80g[/tex]

Mass of [tex]H_2O=0.738g[/tex]

We know that:

Molar mass of carbon dioxide = 44 g/mol

Molar mass of water = 18 g/mol

For calculating the mass of carbon:

In 44 g of carbon dioxide, 12 g of carbon is contained.

So, in [tex]1.80g[/tex] of carbon dioxide, [tex]\frac{12}{44}\times 1.80=0.491g[/tex] of carbon will be contained.

For calculating the mass of hydrogen:

In 18 g of water, 2 g of hydrogen is contained.

So, in [tex]0.738g[/tex] of water, [tex]\frac{2}{18}\times 0.738=0.082g[/tex] of hydrogen will be contained.

To formulate the empirical formula, we need to follow some steps:

Step 1: Converting the given masses into moles.

Moles of Carbon =[tex]\frac{\text{Given mass of Carbon}}{\text{Molar mass of Carbon}}=\frac{0.491g}{12g/mole}=0.0409moles[/tex]

Moles of Hydrogen = [tex]\frac{\text{Given mass of Hydrogen}}{\text{Molar mass of Hydrogen}}=\frac{0.082g}{1g/mole}=0.082moles[/tex]

Step 2: Calculating the mole ratio of the given elements.

For the mole ratio, we divide each value of the moles by the smallest number of moles calculated which is [tex]0.0409[/tex] moles.

For Carbon = [tex]\frac{0.0409}{0.0409}=1[/tex]

For Hydrogen  = [tex]\frac{0.082}{0.0409}=2.00\approx 2[/tex]

Step 3: Taking the mole ratio as their subscripts.

The ratio of C : H = 1 : 2

Hence, the empirical formula for the given compound is [tex]C_1H_2=CH_2[/tex]