Question

The characteristic odor of pineapple is due to ethyl butyrate, an organic compound which contains only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. If a sample of ethyl butyrate is known to contain 0.62069 g of carbon, 0.103448 g of hydrogen and 0.275862 g of oxygen, what is the empirical formula for ethyl butyrate?

Answer 1

The empirical formula is C3H6O

Step-by-step explanation:

Step 1: Data given

A sample of ethyl butyrate contains:

0.62069 g of carbon

0.103448 g of hydrogen

0.275862 g of oxygen

Atomic mass of carbon = 12.01 g/mol

Atomic mass of hydrogen = 1.01 g/mol

Atomic mass of oxygen = 16.0 g/mol

Step 2: Calculate moles

Moles = mass / molar mass

Moles carbon = 0.62069 grams / 12.01 g/mol

Moles carbon = 0.0517 moles

Moles hydrogen = 0.103448 grams / 1.01 g/mol

Moles hydrogen = 0.1024 moles

Moles oxygen = 0.275862 grams / 16.0 g/mol

Moles oxygen = 0.0172 moles

Step 3: Calculate the mol ratio

We divide by the smalllest amount of moles

C: 0.0517 moles / 0.0172 moles = 3

H: 0.1024 moles / 0.0172 moles = 6

O: 0.0172 moles / 0.0172 moles = 1

The empirical formula is C3H6O

Answer 2

C3H6O

Step-by-step explanation:

Data obtained from the question. This includes:

Carbon (C) = 0.62069 g

Hydrogen (H) = 0.103448 g

Oxygen (O) = 0.275862 g

The empirical formula can be obtained as follow:

Step 1:

Divide by their molar mass.

C = 0.62069 / 12 = 0.0517

H = 0.103448 / 1 = 0.103448

O = 0.275862 / 16 = 0.0172

Step 2:

Divide by the smallest number.

C = 0.0517 / 0.0172 = 3

H = 0.103448 / 0.0172 = 6

O = 0.0172 / 0.0172 = 1

Step 3:

Writing the empirical formula.

The empirical formula is C3H6O