A Compound is found to contain 37.47% carbon , 12.61% hydrogen , and 49.92 % oxygen by mass. What is the empirical formula for this compound ?

CH₄O

Explanation:

Given parameters:

Mass percentage of:

          Carbon = 37.47%

           Hydrogen = 12.61%

            Oxygen = 49.92%

Unknown:

Empirical formula of the compound = ?

Solution:

The empirical formula of a compound is the simplest ratio by which the atoms in a compound combines.

The actual formula of a compound is called the molecular formula.

To solve for the empirical formula, we follow this process;

Elements                   Carbon                        Hydrogen           Oxygen

Mass

Percentage                 37.47                             12.61                   49.92

Molar

mass                               12                                   1                           16

Number

of moles                      37.47/12                        12.61/1                 49.92/16

                                         3.12                             12.61                   3.12

Divide by

the smallest                 3.12/3.12                       12.61/3.12             3.12/3.12

                                          1                                      4                           1

Empirical formula = CH₄O

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