The most common form of nylon (nylon-6) is 63.68% carbon, 12.38% nitrogen, 9.80% hydrogen, and 14.4% oxygen. calculate the empirical formula for nylon-6.

The empirical formula for nylon-6 is calculated as below

find the moles of each element

mole = % composition / molar mass

that is carbon = 63.68 / 12 = 5.31 moles

nitrogen=12.38/14=0.88 moles

hydrogen = 9.80/1 = 9.8 moles

oxygen = 14.4/16 = 0.9 moles

find the mole ratio by dividing each moles with smallest moles (0.88 moles)

that is

carbon = 5.31/0.88 = 6

Nitrogen = 0.88/0.88 = 1

Hydrogen = 9.80/0.88 = 11

oxygen = 0.9/0.88 = 1

therefore the empirical formula = C6NH11O