Answer : The empirical formula is,
Solution : Given,
Mass of C = 20.75 g
Mass of H = 4.25 g
Molar mass of C = 12 g/mole
Molar mass of H = 1 g/mole
Step 1 : convert given masses into moles.
Moles of C =
Moles of H =
Step 2 : For the mole ratio, divide each value of moles by the smallest number of moles calculated.
For C =
For H =
The ratio of C : H = 1 : 2.5
In the whole number the ratio of C : H = 2 : 5
The mole ratio of the element is represented by subscripts in empirical formula.
Therefore, the empirical formula is,