A sample of trifluoroacetic acid, C2HF3O2, contains 32.5 g of carbon. Calculate the mass of the trifluoroacetic acid sample.

Answer 1

From the grams of C, we can find the moles of C

From the moles of C, we can find the moles of C₂HF₃O₂

From the moles of C₂HF₃O₂ and the molar mass of C₂HF₃O₂ we can find the mass of the sample

32.5 g C x 1 mol C/12.0 g = 2.708 moles C

2.708 moles C x 1 mol C₂HF₃O₂/2 mol C = 1.354 moles C₂HF₃O₂

1.354 mol C₂HF₃O₂ x 114.02 g/mol = 154 g C₂HF₃O₂