Researchers used a combustion method to analyze a compound used as an antiknock additive in gasoline. a 9.394 mg sample of the compound yielded 31.154 mg of carbon dioxide and 7.977 mg of water in the combustion. calculate the percent composition of the compound.

The percent composition of the compound is 90.5 % C and 9.5 % H

Explanation:

Step 1: Data given

Mass of compound = 9.394 mg

Mass  of CO2 yielded = 31.154 mg

Mass of H2O yielded = 7.977 mg

Molar mass of CO2 = 44.01 g/mol

Molar mass of H2O = 18.02 g/mol

Step 2: Calculate moles CO2

moles of CO2 = (0.031154 g / 44.01 g/mol) = 7.08 * 10^-4 mol CO2

Step 3: Calculate moles C

moles of C = moles of CO2 * (1 mol C / 1 mol CO2)

moles of C = 7.08 * 10^-4 mol

Step 4: Calculate moles H2O

moles of H2O = (0.007977 g / 18.02 g/mol) = 4.43 * 10^-4 mol H2O

Step 5: Calculate moles of H

moles of H = moles of H2O * (2 mol H / 1 mol H2O)

moles of H =  4.43* 10^-4 *2 = 8.86 * 10^-4 mol H

Step 6: Calculate mass of C

mass C = moles C * molar mass C

mass C = 7.08 * 10^-4 mol*12.01 g/mol

mass C = 0.0085 grams

Step 7: Calculate mass of H

mass H = moles H * molar mass H

mass H = 8.86 * 10^-4 mol*1.01 g/mol

mass H = 0.000894 grams

Step 8: Calculate total mass of compound =

0.0085 grams + 0.000894 grams = 0.009394 grams = 9.394 mg

Step 9: Calculate the percent composition:  

% C = (8.50 mg / 9.394 mg) x 100 = 90.5%  

% H = (0.894 mg / 9.394 mg) x 100 = 9.5%

The percent composition of the compound is 90.5 % C and 9.5 % H