Question

An unknown hydrocarbon compound was analyzed for hydrogen by elemental

analysis and results show that it contains 5.611% H. What is the empirical
formula?

Answer 1

The answer to your question is C₁.₄H₁

Step-by-step explanation:

Data

Percent of H = 5.611%

Percent of C = 100 - 5.611

= 94.389 %

Empirical formula = ?

Process

1.- Express the percents as mass

Hydrogen = 5.611 g

Carbon = 94.389 g

2.- Convert the grams to moles

Hydrogen

1 g ----------------- 1 mol

5.611 g -------------- x

x = (5.611 x 1) / 1

x = 5.611 moles

Carbon

12 g ------------------- 1 mol

94.389 g ------------ x

x = (94.389 x 1) / 12

x = 7.866 moles

3.- Divide by the lowest number of moles

Hydrogen 5.611 / 5.611 = 1

Carbon 7.866 / 5.611 = 1.4

4.- Write the empirical formula

C₁.₄H₁