Tear gas has the composition 40.25% carbon, 6.19% hydrogen, 8.94% oxygen, 44.62% bromine. what is the empirical formula of this compound?

Calculating the moles and the moles ratio of the elements gives us the ratio of atoms in each element. Converting the percentage of element into grams 40.25% carbon = 40.25/100 =.4025 * 100 g of carbon = 40.25g of C 6.19% hydrogen = 6.19/100 =.0619 * 100g g of hydrogen = 6.19g of H 8.94% oxygen = 8.94/100 =.0819 * 100 g of oxygen = 8.19g of O 44.62% bromine = 44.62/100 =.4462 * 100 g of bromine = 44.62g of Br Converting the grams of element into moles (48.38 g C) (1 mol / 12.10 g C) = 4.028 mol C (8.12 g H) (1 mol / 1.008 g H) = 8.056 mol H (53.38 g O) (1 mol / 16.00 g O) = 3.336 mol O (44.62g of Br) (0.012515018021626 moles) = 0.55842 mol Br Calculating the moles ratio of elements by dividing the small number of moles of an element 4.028 mol C / 0.55842 = 7.2 mol C x 5 = 36 mol C 8.056 mol H / 0.55842 = 14.42 mol H = 72 mol H 3.336 mol O / 0.55842 = 5.97 mol O = 30 mol O 0.55842 mol Br / 0.55842 = 1mol Br = 5 mol Br So the empirical formula is (C6H12O5) 6Br5