A sample of an unknown compound was decomposed and found to be composed of 1.36 mol oxygen, 4.10 mol hydrogen, and 2.05 mol carbon. What is the empirical formula of the unknown compound?

C3H6O2

Explanation:

To find the empirical formula of the compound, we divide the amount in moles of each of the elements by the amount in mole of the element with the smallest number of mole. In this question, the element with the smallest number of moles is oxygen with 1.36 mole. Hence, we divide the number of moles of each element by this.

H = 4.10/1.36 = 3

O = 1.36/1.36 = 1

C = 2.05/1.36 = 1.5

We then multiply through by 2 to yield the compound with the empirical formula C3H6O2

the answer is b because, investigating whether another species of moth also drinks tears might be interesting, but it would not directly explain why this species of moth does.

to explain why this species of moth drinks tears, the scientist could ask: "what nutrients that moths need are in elephant tears? "

the scientist could experiment with moth repellent or oter ways to keep the moths away, but that would not answer his original question.