Question

A 5.024 mg sample of an unknown organic molecule containing carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen only was burned and yielded 13.90 mg of CO2 and 6.048 mg of H2O. What is the empirical formula

Answer 1

C8H17N

Step-by-step explanation:

Mass of the unknown compound = 5.024 mg

Mass of CO2 = 13.90 mg

Mass of H2O = 6.048 mg

Next, we shall determine the mass of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen present in the compound. This is illustrated below:

For carbon, C:

Molar mass of CO2 = 12 + (2x16) = 44g/mol

Mass of C = 12/44 x 13.90 = 3.791 mg

For hydrogen, H:

Molar mass of H2O = (2x1) + 16 = 18g/mol

Mass of H = 2/18 x 6.048 = 0.672 mg

For nitrogen, N:

Mass N = mass of unknown – (mass of C + mass of H)

Mass of N = 5.024 – (3.791 + 0.672)

Mass of N = 0.561 mg

Now, we can obtain the empirical formula for the compound as follow:

C = 3.791 mg

H = 0.672 mg

N = 0.561 mg

Divide each by their molar mass

C = 3.791 / 12 = 0.316

H = 0.672 / 1 = 0.672

N = 0.561 / 14 = 0.040

Divide by the smallest

C = 0.316 / 0.04 = 8

H = 0.672 / 0.04 = 17

N = 0.040 / 0.04 = 1

Therefore, the empirical formula for the compound is C8H17N