Answer:
Empirical formula is C₂H₄O
Explanation:
Given data:
Percentage of hydrogen = 9.15%
Percentage of carbon = 54.53%
Percentage of oxygen = 36.32%
Empirical formula of butyric acid = ?
Solution:
Number of gram atoms of H = 9.15 / 1.01 = 9.1
Number of gram atoms of O = 36.32 / 16 = 2.27
Number of gram atoms of C = 54.53 / 12 = 4.54
Atomic ratio:
C : H : O
4.54/2.27 : 9.1/2.27 : 2.27/2.27
2 : 4 : 1
C : H : O = 2 : 4 : 1
Empirical formula is C₂H₄O.