A sample of a compound was found to contain 8.00 g of carbon, 1.344 g of hydrogen and 10.66 g of oxygen. Determine the empirical formula

Answer 1

Good morning, Gabby. To solve an empirical formula problem, first change al the grams to moles.

carbon: 8.00g / 12.01 g/mol = 0.666 mol

hydrogen: 1.344g / 1.008 g/mol = 1.33 mol

oxygen: 10.66g / 16.00 g/mol = 0.666 mol

Next, divide the moles of each element by the smallest number of moles:

carbon: 0.666 mol / 0.666 mol = 1

hydrogen: 1.33 mol / 0.666 mol = 2

oxygen: 0.666 mol / 0.666 mol = 1

Now that we have a small whole number ratio, we have the empirical formula, CH₂O.