Final answer:
Polystyrene is a plastic used in various applications and determined through combustion analysis to have a chemical composition of 92.3% carbon and 7.7% hydrogen, aiding in the calculation of its empirical formula.
Step-by-step explanation:
Polystyrene is a widely used plastic discovered by Eduard Simon in 1839.
Its uses range from packaging materials to CD cases and foam drink cups. The empirical formula for polystyrene, which consists of carbon and hydrogen, is determined through combustion analysis. For instance, when a sample of polystyrene undergoes combustion analysis producing CO2 and H2O, the amounts of carbon and hydrogen are used to calculate its empirical formula. Given the empirical formulas for various polymers like Lucite, Saran, and polyethylene, polystyrene is listed with 92.3% carbon and 7.7% hydrogen, which helps in confirming its chemical composition.