Answer : The simplest formula of a compound is, [tex]C_2H_4O[/tex]
Solution :
If percentage are given then we are taking total mass is 100 grams.
So, the mass of each element is equal to the percentage given.
Mass of C = 54.5 g
Mass of H = 9.1 g
Mass of O = 36.4 g
Molar mass of C = 12 g/mole
Molar mass of H = 1 g/mole
Molar mass of O = 16 g/mole
Step 1 : convert given masses into moles.
Moles of C = [tex]\frac{\text{ given mass of C}}{\text{ molar mass of C}}= \frac{54.5g}{12g/mole}=4.54moles[/tex]
Moles of H = [tex]\frac{\text{ given mass of H}}{\text{ molar mass of H}}= \frac{9.1g}{1g/mole}=9.1moles[/tex]
Moles of O = [tex]\frac{\text{ given mass of O}}{\text{ molar mass of O}}= \frac{36.4g}{16g/mole}=2.28moles[/tex]
Step 2 : For the mole ratio, divide each value of moles by the smallest number of moles calculated.
For C = [tex]\frac{4.54}{2.28}=1.99\approx 2[/tex]
For H = [tex]\frac{9.1}{2.28}=3.99\approx 4[/tex]
For O = [tex]\frac{2.28}{2.28}=1[/tex]
The ratio of C : H : O = 2 : 4 : 1
The mole ratio of the element is represented by subscripts in empirical formula.
The Empirical formula = [tex]C_2H_4O_1=C_2H_4O[/tex]
Therefore, the simplest formula of the compound is, [tex]C_2H_4O[/tex]
