Question

Determine the empirical formulas for the following compounds:

(a) acetic acid, C24O2
(b) citric acid, C6H8O7
(c) hydrazine, N2H4
(d) nicotine, C10H14N2
(e) butane, C4H10

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Empirical formula is defined as the formula in which atoms in a compound are present in simplest whole number ratios.

For the given options:

• Option a: Acetic acid

Acetic acid having molecular formula
`C_2H_4O_2`. To write the empirical formula, we divide each subscript by 2.

`C_(2/2)H_(4/2)O_(2/2)=CH_2O`

Hence, the empirical formula for acetic acid is
`CH_2O`

• Option b: Citric acid

Citric acid having molecular formula
`C_6H_8O_7`. To write the empirical formula, we divide each subscript by 1.

`C_(6/1)H_(8/1)O_(7/1)=C_6H_8O_7`

Hence, the empirical formula for citric acid is
`C_6H_8O_7`

• Option c: Hydrazine

Hydrazine having molecular formula
`N_2H_4`. To write the empirical formula, we divide each subscript by 2.

`N_(2/2)H_(4/2)=NH_2`

Hence, the empirical formula for hydrazine is
`NH_2`

• Option d: Nicotine

Nicotine having molecular formula
`C_(10)H_(14)N_2`. To write the empirical formula, we divide each subscript by 2.

`C_(10/2)H_(14/2)N_(2/1)=C_5H_7N`

Hence, the empirical formula for nicotine is
`C_5H_7N`

• Option e: Butane

Butane having molecular formula
`C_(4)H_(10)`. To write the empirical formula, we divide each subscript by 2.

`C_(4/2)H_(10/2)=C_2H_5`

Hence, the empirical formula for butane is
`C_2H_5`