Question

An unknown gaseous substance has a density of 1.06 g/L at 31 °C and 371 torr. If the substance has the following percent composition: 88.8% C and 11.2% H, its molecular formula is ________.A) CH3B) C2H3C) C4H6D) C2H5

Answer 1

C) C4H6 - Right answer

Step-by-step explanation:

Let's combine the Ideal Gases Law with density to get the molecular formula for the unknown gas.

Density = mass / volume

1.06 g /L means that 1.06 grams of compound occupy 1 liter of volume.

P . V = n . R . T

Pressure in Torr must be converted to atm

760 Torr are 1 atm

371 Torr are __ (371 .1)/760 = 0.488 atm

0.488 atm . 1L = 1.06g/MM . 0.082 . 304K

(0.488 atm . 1L) / 0.082 . 304K = 1.06g/ MM

Mass / Molar mass = Moles → That's why the 1.06 g / MM

0.0195 mol = 1.06g / MM

1.06g/0.0195 mol = MM → 54.3 g/m

Now, let's use the composition

100 g of compound have 88.8 g of C

54.3 g of compound have ___ (54.3 . 88.8) /100 = 48 g of C

100 g of compound have 11.2 g of H

54.3 g of compound have __ (54.3 . 11.2)/100 = 6 g of H

48 g of C are included un 4 atoms

6 g of H are included in 6 atoms