Question

The amounts of C and O are the same so the empirical formula has equal numbers of C and O atoms; that is, it has the general form CxHyOx. Determine the ratio of H/C (that is, y/x).

Answer 1

4/3

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

`(y)/(x) =2`

Step-by-step explanation:

Hello,

In this case, since the subscripts for both carbon and oxygen are equal, one could assume the following empirical formula:

`CH_2O`

Which is suitable for formaldehyde or if it is multiplied by 2 (C₂H₄O₂) for acetic acid or ethen-1,2-diol. In such a way, computing the percent composition:

`\% C=(12)/(30)*100 \% =40\%\\\% H=(2)/(30)*100 \% =6.67\%\\\% O=(16)/(30)*100 \% =53.33\%\\`

Thus, if at the beginning we just have, the percentages, one could compute moles as:

`n_C=(0.4)/(12)=0.0333 \\n_H=(0.0667)/(1)=0.0667\\ n_O=(0.5333)/(16)=0.033`

Whereas based on the initial formula:

`x=0.0333\\y=0.0667`

The ratio
`y/x` will be:

`(y)/(x) =(0.0667)/(0.0333)=2`

For all the whole numbers the empirical formula was multiplied by.

Best regards.