When a 0.860 g sample of an organic compound containing C, H, and O was burned completely in oxygen, 1.64 g of CO2 and 1.01 g of H2O were produced. What is the empirical formula of the compound?

C₂H₆O

Explanation:

Empirical formula is the simplest ratio of atoms present in a molecule. To solve this question we must find the moles of C, H and O in order to find the simplest ratio of this atoms.

To solve this question we must find the moles of C from CO2, moles of H from H2O and moles of O from the difference of masses of C and H and the sample:

Moles C:

1.64g CO2 * (1mol / 44g) = 0.03727 moles CO2 * (1mol C / 1mol CO2) = 0.03727 moles C

0.03727 moles C * (12g / mol) = 0.4473g C

Moles H:

1.01g H2O * (1mol / 18g) = 0.05611 moles H2O * (2mol H / 1mol H2O) =

0.1122 moles H

0.1122 moles H * (1g / mol) = 0.1122g H

Moles O:

0.860g - 0.1122g H - 0.4473g C = 0.3005g O * (1mol / 16g) =

0.01878 moles O

The ratio of the moles of atoms regard to the moles of O (Lower number of moles) is:

C = 0.03727 moles C / 0.01878 moles O = 1.98 ≈ 2

H = 0.1122 moles H / 0.01878 moles O = 5.97 ≈ 6

O = 0.01878 moles O / 0.01878 moles O = 1

Empirical formula is:

explanation:

let the different atoms be x and y. each with four protons and same mass will be represented as follows.

mass number is number of protons + number of neutrons.

            and  

since, it is given that one has a negative charge while the other is neutral. therefore, there will be increase in number of protons and the atom will be represented as follows.

according to periodic table, mass number of beryllium is 9 and it has atomic number 4 so, the atoms will be and .  

the protons and neutrons will be located inside the nucleus whereas the electrons will be revolving around the nucleus.