A 36.165 mg36.165 mg sample of a chemical known to contain only carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen is put into a combustion analysis apparatus, yielding 64.425 mg64.425 mg of carbon dioxide and 26.373 mg26.373 mg of water. In another experiment, 47.029 mg47.029 mg of the compound is reacted with excess oxygen to produce 20.32 mg20.32 mg of sulfur dioxide. Add subscripts to the formula provided to correctly identify the empirical formula of this compound. Do not change the order of the elements.

The empirical formula for the compound is C6H12SO2.

Explanation:

We'll begin by writing out what was given from the question. This is shown:

Let us consider the First experiment:

Mass of the compound = 36.165 mg

Mass of CO2 = 64.425 mg

Mass of H2O = 26.373 mg

Data obtained from the Second experiment:

Mass of compound = 47.029 mg

Mass of SO2 = 20.32 mg

Next, we'll determine the mass of C, H and S. This is illustrated below:

Molar Mass of CO2 = 12 + (2x16) = 44g/mol

Mass of C in CO2 = 12/44 x 64.425 Mass of C = 17.57 mg

Molar Mass of H2O = (2x1) + 16 = 18g/mol

Mass of H in H2O = 2/18 x 26.373

Mass of H = 2.93 mg

Molar Mass of SO2 = 32 + (16x2) = 64g/mol

Mass of S in SO2 = 32/64 x 20.32

Mass of S = 10.16 mg

At this stage, it is important we determine the percentage composition of C, H, S and O. This is illustrated below:

% of C = 17.57/36.165 x 100 = 48.58%

% of H = 2.93/36.165 x 100 = 8.10%

% of S = 10.16/47.029 x 100 = 21.60%

% of O = 100 - (48.58 + 8.1 + 21.6)

% of O = 21.72%

Now we can easily obtain the empirical formula for the compound by doing the following.

Step 1:

Divide by their molar mass

C = 48.58/12 = 4.0483

H = 8.10/1 = 8.1

S = 21.60/32 = 0.675

O = 21.72/16 = 1.3575

Step 2:

Divide by the smallest:

C = 4.0483/0.675 = 6

H = 8.1/0.675 = 12

S = 0.675/0.675 = 1

O = 1.3575/0.675 = 2

From the calculations made above, empirical formula for the compound is C6H12SO2