Question

What is the empirical formula of a substance that contains 0.117 mol of carbon, 0.233 mol of hydrogen, and 0.117 mol of oxygen?

Answer 1

Empirical formula of a compound gives the proportions of the elements in that compound but it does not define the actual arrangement and number of atoms.

Let the empirical formula of compound be
`C_(x)H_(y)O_(z)`.

The ratio of number of moles of C, H and O can be calculated as follows:

`C:H:O=0.117:0.233:0.117`

Simplifying the ratio,

`C:H:O=(0.117)/(0.117):(0.233)/(0.117):(0.117)/(0.117)=1:1.99:1=1:2:1`

Thus, the value of x, y and z will be 1, 2 and 1 respectively.

Therefore, the empirical formula will be
`CH_(2)O`.