Question

Putrescine, a substance produced by decaying animals, has the empirical formula c2h6n. the molecular molar mass is about 88. what is the molecular formula?

Answer 1

The molecular formula of putrescine is C8H24N4.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the molecular formula, we need to determine the number of repeating units in the empirical formula. Given that the molecular molar mass of putrescine is approximately 88 g/mol and the empirical formula is C2H6N, we can calculate the empirical molar mass:

2(12.01 g/mol) + 6(1.01 g/mol) + 14.01 g/mol = 48.08 g/mol

Next, we divide the molecular molar mass by the empirical molar mass:

88 g/mol / 48.08 g/mol ≈ 1.83

Since we cannot have a fraction of a molecule, we need to multiply the empirical formula by the whole number closest to the ratio we calculated:

2(2) = 4

Thus, the molecular formula of putrescine is C8H24N4.