Combustion analysis of a 13.42-g sample of estriol (which contains only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen) produced 36.86 g CO2 and 10.06 g H2O. The molar mass of estriol is 288.38 g/mol . Find the molecular formula for estriol. Express your answer as a chemical formula.

C18H24O3

Explanation:

Step 1:

Data obtained from the question. This include the following:

Mass of estriol = 13.42g

Mass of CO2 = 36.86g

Mass of H2O = 10.06g

Molar mass of estriol = 288.38g/mol

Step 2:

Determination of the mass of Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O) present in the compound. This is illustrated below:

For Carbon, C:

Molar mass of CO2 = 12 + (2x16) = 44g/mol

Mass of C in CO2 = 12/44 x 36.86 = 10.05g

For Hydrogen, H:

Molar Mass of H2O = (2x1) + 16 = 18g/mol

Mass of H in H2O = 2/18 x 10.06 = 1.12g

For Oxygen, O:

Mass of O = 13.42 – (10.05 + 1.12) = 2.25g

Step 3:

Determination of the empirical formula for estriol. This is illustrated below:

C = 10.05g

H = 1.12g

O = 2.25g

Divide by their molar mass

C = 10.05/12 = 0.8375

H = 1.12/1 = 1.12

O = 2.25/16 = 0.1406

Divide by the smallest i.e 0.1406

C = 0.8375/0.1406 = 6

H = 1.12/0.1406 = 8

O = 0.1406/0.1406 = 1

Therefore, the empirical formula for estriol is C6H8O

Step 4:

Determination of the molecular formula for estriol. This is illustrated below:

Molecular formula is simply a multiple of the empirical formula i.e

Molecular formula => [C6H8O]n

[C6H8O]n = 288.38g/mol

[(12x6) + (8x1) + 16]n = 288.38

[72 + 8 + 16]n = 288.38

96n = 288.38

Divide both side by 96

n = 288.38/96 = 3

Molecular formula => [C6H8O]n

=> [C6H8O]n

=> [C6H8O]3

=> C18H24O3

Therefore, the molecular formula for estriol is C18H24O3