The foul odor of rancid butter is due largely to butyric acid, a compound containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. combustion analysis of a 4.30-g sample of butyric acid produces 8.59 g co2 and 3.52 g h2o. determine the empirical formula for butyric acid.

The empirical formula for the given compound is

Explanation:

The chemical equation for the combustion of hydrocarbon having carbon, hydrogen and oxygen follows:

where, 'x', 'y' and 'z' are the subscripts of Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen respectively.

We are given:

Mass of

Mass of

We know that:

Molar mass of carbon dioxide = 44 g/mol

Molar mass of water = 18 g/mol

For calculating the mass of carbon:

In 44 g of carbon dioxide, 12 g of carbon is contained.

So, in 8.59 g of carbon dioxide, of carbon will be contained.

For calculating the mass of hydrogen:

In 18 g of water, 2 g of hydrogen is contained.

So, in 3.52 g of water, of hydrogen will be contained.

For calculating the mass of oxygen:

Mass of oxygen in the compound =

To formulate the empirical formula, we need to follow some steps:

Step 1: Converting the given masses into moles.

Moles of Carbon =

Moles of Hydrogen =

Moles of Oxygen =

Step 2: Calculating the mole ratio of the given elements.

For the mole ratio, we divide each value of the moles by the smallest number of moles calculated which is moles.

For Carbon =

For Hydrogen  =

For Oxygen  =

Step 3: Taking the mole ratio as their subscripts.

The ratio of C : H : O = 2 : 4 : 1

Hence, the empirical formula for the given compound is

a polar bond is formed when electrons are shared unevenly between atoms