Question

If the chemical analysis of a 10.000 g sample of oil of wintergreen shows that it consists of 6.320 g of carbon, 0.530 g of hydrogen, and 3.16 g of oxygen. What is the simplest formula for oil of wintergreen?

Answer 1

The simple formula for oil of wintergreen is C8H8O3

calculation

Step 1: calculate the moles each element present in the oil of wintergreen.

moles= mass/molar mass

moles of carbon (C)= 6.320g / 12.0 g/mol =0.527 moles

moles of Hydrogen(H)= 0.530 g /1 g/mol = 0.530 moles

moles of oxygen (O) = 3.16 g /16 g/mol = 0.198 moles

Step 2: calculate the mole ratio ( by dividing each mole by smallest mole=0.198 moles)

=for carbon (c) = 0.527/0.198 = 2.7

for hydrogen(H) = 0.530 / 0.198 = 2.7

for oxygen (O) = 0.198/0.198 =1

Step 3: multiply each mole ratio by 3 to remove the decimal

= for C = 2.7 x3 =8

for H= 2.7 x3 = 8

for O = 1 x3 = 3

therefore the simple formula is C8H8O3