Question

Fumaric acid, which occurs in many plants, contains, by mass, 41.4% carbon, 3.47% hydrogen, and 55.1% oxygen. The molecular mass of this compound is 116 amu. The molecular formula of this compound is

Question 15 options:

CHO


C3H3O


C3H3O3


C4H4O4


C6H6O6

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

C = 41.4/12 = 3.43

H = 3.47/1 = 3.47

O = 55.1/16 =3.44

CHO is the skeletal formula (divide each by the lowest number above). The results are close enough to 1 to be 1.

(CHO)_x = 116

C + H + O = 29

(29) _ x = 116

x = 116/29

x = 4

So there area 4 carbons 4 hydrogens and 4 oxygens.

The correct formula is C4H4O4