5.00 g of a certain Compound X, known to be made of carbon, hydrogen and perhaps oxygen, and to have a molecular molar mass of 78./gmol, is burned completely in excess oxygen, and the mass of the products carefully measured, product mass:

carbon dioxide 16.93g

water 3.46g

Use this information to find the molecular formula of X.

The molecular formula = C6H6

Explanation:

Step 1: Data given

Mass of compound X = 5.00 grams

Mass of products =

  CO2 = 16.39 grams

  H2O = 3.46 grams

Molar mass CO2 = 44.01 g/mol

Molar mass H2O = 18.02 g/mol

Molar mass C = 12.01 g/mol

Molar mass H = 1.01 g/mol

Molar mass O = 16. 0g/mol

Step 2: Calculate moles

Moles = mass / molar mass

Moles CO2 = 16.93 grams / 44.01 g/mol

Moles CO2 =  0.385 moles

Moles C = 1* 0.385 = 0.385 moles

Moles H2O = 3.46 grams / 18.02

Moles H2O = 0.192 moles

Moles H = 2* 0.192 = 0.384 moles

Step 3: Calculate mass

Mass = moles * molar mass

Mass C = 0.385 moles *12.0 g/mol

Mass C = 4.62 grams

Mass H = 0.39 grams

Mass O = 5.00 - 4.62 -0.38 moles

Mass O = 0 grams

Step 4: Calculate mol ratio

We divide by the smallest amount of moles

C: 0.385 moles / 0.384 = 1

H: 0.384 moles / 0.384 = 1

The empirical formula is CH

This molecular formula is 13 g/mol

We have to multiply the empirical formula by n

n = 78 g/mol / 13 g/mol

n = 6

The molecular formula = 6*(CH) = C6H6