Final answer:
To calculate the empirical formula of Ibuprofen, we need to determine the simplest whole number ratio of atoms in the compound. Given its mass percent composition, the empirical formula of Ibuprofen is C6H8O3.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the empirical formula of a compound, we need to determine the simplest whole number ratio of atoms in the compound. In this case, we are given the mass percent composition of Ibuprofen, which is 75.69% C, 8.80% H, and 15.51% O. To find the empirical formula, we assume we have 100 grams of the compound, so we have 75.69 grams of carbon, 8.80 grams of hydrogen, and 15.51 grams of oxygen.
Next, we need to convert the grams of each element to moles by dividing by their respective molar masses. The molar masses are 12.01 g/mol for carbon, 1.01 g/mol for hydrogen, and 16.00 g/mol for oxygen.
After finding the moles of each element, we divide by the smallest number of moles to get the simplest whole number ratio. In this case, we find that there are approximately 6 moles of carbon, 8 moles of hydrogen, and 3 moles of oxygen. Therefore, the empirical formula of Ibuprofen is C6H8O3.