A compound is 86% carbon and 14% hydrogen by mass. What is the empirical formula for this compound?

Question

Chemistry

Darryl Pruitt

4 March, 02:08

A compound is 86% carbon and 14% hydrogen by mass. What is the empirical formula for this compound?

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Answers (1)

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Picasso · Answer 1

First, convert grams of the elements to moles. Then you divide by the smallest number of moles to get the lowest whole number ratio.

86g C*1 mol C/12g C = 7.2 mol C/7.2 = 1

14 g H*1 mol H/1g H = 14 mol H/7.2 = 2

So the empirical formula is C1H2