Estradiol is a female sexual hormone that causes maturation and maintenance of the female reproductive system. elemental analysis of estradiol gave the mass percent composition: c, 79.37%; h, 8.88%; o, 11.75%. the molar mass of estradiol is 272.37 g/mol. find the molecular formula of estradiol.

The answer to your question is: Molecular formula =  C₁₈H₂₄O₂

Explanation:

Estradiol

C = 79.37 %

H = 8.88 %

O = 11.75 %

Molar mass = 272.37

Process    

Carbon   =    79.37 g

Hydrogen  =   8.88 g

Oxygen  =      11.75 g

                       12 g of Carbon    1 mol

                       79.37 g                  x

                        x = (79.37 x 1) / 12

                       x = 6.61 mol

                      1 g of Hydrogen  1 mol

                     8.88 g                     x

                      x = (8.88 x 1 ) / 1

                      x = 8.88 mol

                     16 g of Oxygen  1 mol

                     11.75 g                   x

                     x = (11.75 x 1) / 16

                     x = 0.73

Divide by the lowest number of moles

Carbon    = 6.61 / 0.72 = 9.2

Hydrogen =  8.88 / 0.73 = 12.2

Oxygen = 0.73/0.73 = 1

Empirical formula

                                         C₉H₁₂O₁

MW of the empirical formula = (12 x 9) + (12 x 1) + (16 x 1)

                                                = 136 g

Divide molar mass of estradiol by the molar mass of the empirical formula.

                    = 272 / 136

                   = 2

Then the molecular formula is:

                             2(C₉H₁₂O)  =  C₁₈H₂₄O₂