Answer:
C2H4O3
Step-by-step explanation:
Empirical formula is defined as the simplest whole number ratio of atoms present in a molecule.
To solve this question we need to find the moles of carbon = Moles of CO2, the moles of hydrogen (Using moles of H2O) and the moles of oxygen (Finding the mass of the mass of each atom) as follows:
Moles Carbon -Molar mass CO2: 44.01g/mol-:
33.86g CO2 * (1mol/44.01g) = 0.769 moles CO2 = Moles C * (12g/mol) =
9.23g C
Moles Hydrogen -Molar mass H2O: 18.01g/mol-
13.86g H2O * (1mol/18.01g) = 0.770 moles H2O * (2mol H / 1mol H2O) = 1.54 moles H * (1g/mol) = 1.54g H
Moles Oxygen:
Mass: 29.26g - 9.23g C - 1.54g H = 18.49g O * (1mol/16g) = 1.156 moles O
Dividing each number of moles in the moles of C (Lowe number of moles):
C = 0.769 moles C / 0.769 moles C = 1
H = 1.54 moles H / 0.769 moles C = 2
O = 1.156 moles O / 0.769 moles C = 1.5
As the number must be a whole number each ratio twice:
C = 2
H = 4
O = 3
Empirical formula is:
C2H4O3