Question

Butyric acid is the odor of rancid cheese. Calculate the empirical formula for butyric acid given its percent composition: 54.53% C, 9.15% H, and 36.32%.

Answer 1

Empirical formula is C₂H₄O

Step-by-step explanation:

Given data:

Percentage of hydrogen = 9.15%

Percentage of carbon = 54.53%

Percentage of oxygen = 36.32%

Empirical formula of butyric acid = ?

Solution:

Number of gram atoms of H = 9.15 / 1.01 = 9.1

Number of gram atoms of O = 36.32 / 16 = 2.27

Number of gram atoms of C = 54.53 / 12 = 4.54

Atomic ratio:

C : H : O

4.54/2.27 : 9.1/2.27 : 2.27/2.27

2 : 4 : 1

C : H : O = 2 : 4 : 1

Empirical formula is C₂H₄O.