Final answer:
The empirical formula of an alcohol from combustion analysis involves determining the molar amounts of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from the produced carbon dioxide and water, calculating their respective moles, and simplifying the molar ratios to get the empirical formula.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the empirical formula of an alcohol based on combustion analysis, we first need to calculate the molar amounts of carbon and hydrogen in the alcohol sample from the masses of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) produced.
The molecular weight of CO2 is approximately 44 grams per mole, and since carbon makes up 12 grams per mole of that weight, we can calculate the moles of carbon in the CO2 produced by dividing 0.191 grams by 44 and then multiplying by 12. Similarly, the molecular weight of H2O is approximately 18 grams per mole, with 2 grams per mole being hydrogen. Thus, we can calculate the moles of hydrogen by dividing 0.172 grams by 18 and then multiplying by 2.
After finding the moles of carbon and hydrogen, the 'missing' mass from the initial 0.10 grams is attributed to oxygen, and its moles are determined by subtracting the mass of carbon and hydrogen from the initial mass and dividing by the molecular weight of oxygen, which is 16 grams per mole. Finally, the molar ratios of C, H, and O are determined and simplified to get the empirical formula.