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A pure sample of a hydrocarbon is found to be 74.5% carbon by mass. What is the empirical formula of this compound?

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Answer:

THE EMPIRICAL FORMULA FOR THE PURE HYDROCARBON IS CH4

Step-by-step explanation:

A pure hydrocarbon contains carbon and hydrogen

Percentage composition of carbon = 74.5 %

Percentage composition of hydrogen = 25.5

In order to calculate the empirical formula of this hydrocarbon, you follow these couple of steps.

write out the percentage composition and divide by the relative atomic mass of the respective constituents.

Carbon = 74.5 / 12 = 6.2083

Hydrogen = 25.5 / 1 = 25.5

Next is to divide the values by the lowest factor

Carbon = 6.2083 / 6.2083 = 1

Hydrogen = 25.5 / 6.2083 = 4.1

Next is to write the empirical formula:

C H4

In conclusion the empirical formula for the pure hydrcarbon is CH4

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