Question

4.50 g of a certain Compound X, known to be made of carbon, hydrogen and perhaps oxygen, and to have a molecular molar mass of 128. g/mol, is burned completely in excess oxygen, and the mass of the products carefully measured: product carbon dioxide water mass 15.47 g 2.53 g Use this information to find the molecular formula of X.

Answer 1

`\mathbf{C_(10)H_8}` ( Naphthalene )

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that:

4.50 g of a Compound X is made up of Carbon , Hydron and Oxygen

It's molecular molar mass = 128 g/mol

Compound X undergoes combustion reaction and the product yield :

CO_2 with mass 15.47g and :

H_2O with mass 2.53 g

The objective is to use this information to determine the molecular formula of X.

We all know that ; number of moles = mass/molar mass

where the molar mass of H_2O is 18 g/mol

number of moles of H_2O product = 2.53 g/18 g/mol

number of moles of H_2O product = 0.1406 moles

Also; the molar mass of CO_2 product = 44 g/mol

number of moles of CO_2 product = 15.47g/ 44 g/mol

number of moles of CO_2 product = 0.3516 moles

number of moles of Compound X in the reactant side= 4.50 g /128 g/mol

number of moles of Compound X n the reactant side= 0.03516 moles

Now; number number of moles of CO_2 in reactant = 0.3516 moles/0.03516 moles

Now; number number of moles of CO_2 in reactant = 10

number of moles of H_2O reactant = 0.1406 moles × 2/0.03516

number of moles of H_2O reactant = 7.997 ≅ 8

Since we said the Compound X is known to be made of Carbon C , Hydrogen H and Oxygen O

Then the molecular formula can be written as :

`\mathbf{C_(10)H_8O_(x)}`

In order to find the x; we have

128 = (12 × 10 + 1 × 8 + 16 × x)

128 = 120 + 8 + 16x)

128 = 128 + 16 x

128 - 128 = 16 x

0 = 16 x

x = 0/16

x = 0

As x = 0 ; hence there are no oxygen present in the reaction

Thus; the molecular formula of Compound X =
`\mathbf{C_(10)H_8}` which is also known as Naphthalene