Determine the number of atoms of each element in the empirical formula of a compound with the following composition:

68.75 percent C, 10.90 percent H, 20.35 percent O.

To determine the empirical formula of the compound, we assume a basis of 100 g of this compound. We calculate as follows:

C = 68.75 g

H = 10.90 g

O = 20.35 g

We convert these mass to moles,

C = 68.75 g / 12.01 g/mol = 5.72 mol

H = 10.90 g / 1.01 g/mol = 10.79 mol

O = 20.35 g / 16 g/mol = 1.27 mol

C = 5.72 mol / 1.27 mol = 5

H = 10.79 mol / 1.27 mol = 8

O = 1.27 mol / 1.27 mol = 1

C5H8O