Question

Methyl benzonate is a compound used in the manufacturer of perfumes. It is found that a5.325g simple of methyl benzonete contains 3.758g of carbon.0.316g of hydrogen and 1.251of oxygen

Determine the empirical formula of methyl benzonete?

Answer 1

To determine the empirical formula of methyl benzonate, we need to find the simplest whole-number ratio of the atoms present in the compound. We are given the masses of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a sample of methyl benzonate.

1. Calculate the moles of each element:

Moles of Carbon (C) = mass / molar mass = 3.758g / 12.01 g/mol ≈ 0.313 mol

Moles of Hydrogen (H) = mass / molar mass = 0.316g / 1.008 g/mol ≈ 0.313 mol

Moles of Oxygen (O) = mass / molar mass = 1.251g / 16.00 g/mol ≈ 0.078 mol

2. Find the simplest whole-number ratio of moles:

The ratio of C : H : O ≈ 0.313 : 0.313 : 0.078

3. Divide all moles by the smallest number of moles (0.078):

C : H : O ≈ 4 : 4 : 1

The empirical formula of methyl benzonate is CH₄O.