Answer:
C₁₇H₂₀N₄O₆
Step-by-step explanation:
First, we need to determine the percentage of the atoms in the molecule. Then, assuming a basis of 100 we must convert the mass of each atom to moles. Simplest formula is the simplest ratio of atoms presents in the molecule:
%C:
19.88g CO2 * (12.01g/mol C / 44.01g/mol CO2) = 5.425g C
5.425g C / 10.0g * 100 = 54.25% C
%H:
4.79g H2O * (2*1.01g/mol / 18.015g/mol) = 0.537g H
0.537g H / 10.0g * 100 = 5.37%
%N:
14.89%
%O:
100 - 14.89% - 54.25% - 5.37% = 25.49%
Moles of each atom in a basis of 100g:
C: 54.25g * (1mol / 12.01g) = 4.517moles
H: 5.37g * (1mol / 1.01g) = 5.317 moles
N: 14.89g * (1mol / 14.01g) = 1.063 moles
O: 25.49g * (1mol / 16g) = 1.593 moles
Dividing each amount of moles in the lower number of moles (moles N):
C = 4.517mol / 1.063mol = 4.25
H = 5.317mol / 1.063mol = 5
N = 1.063mol / 1.063mol = 1
O = 1.593mol / 1.063mol = 1.5
This ratio multiplied 4 times to obtain whole-numbers:
C = 4.25*4 = 17
H = 5*4 = 20
N = 1*4 = 4
O = 1.5*4 = 6
The simplest formula for vitamin B6 is:
C₁₇H₂₀N₄O₆