Question

14.Sorbitol is used in sugar free gums as a sweetener. After analysis, a sample of

sorbitol contained 3.96 g of carbon, .769 g of hydrogen, and 5.28 g of oxygen.
What is its empirical formula? If the molecular mass is 182 amu, then what is the
molecular formula of sorbitol?

Answer 1

C6H12O6

Step-by-step explanation:

To find empirical formular you write out the element

Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen

3.96 769 5.28

then u althrough divide by their atomic numbers

3.96÷ 12 769÷1 5.28÷16

=0.33 =769 =0.33

also divide althrough by the lowest number

the lowest number is 0.33 so we use it to divide

0.33÷0.33. 769÷0.33. 0.33÷0.33

= 1 = 2 = 1

empirical formular= CH2O

To find the Molecular formular

Molecular number = molar mass

(CH2O)n = 182

(12+1×2+16)n = 182

30n = 182

n = 6

therefore the Molecular formular is C6H12O6