Nitroglycerin contains 60% as many carbon atoms as hydrogen atoms, three times as many oxygen atoms as nitrogen atoms, and the same number of carbon and nitrogen atoms. The number of moles in 1.00g of nitroglycerin is 0.00441. What is the molecular formula?

C₃H₅N₃O₉

Explanation:

Molar mass of nitroglycerin (Ratio of mass and moles of the compound) is:

1.00g / 0.0041mol = 226.8g/mol

We can write the equations:

0.6H = C (1)

-60% as many carbon atoms as hydrogen atoms-

3N = O (2)

C = N

Using as basis the atoms of Carbon:

Carbon = 1

Nitrogen = 1

Oxygen = 3

Hydrogen = 1/0.6 = 1.67

A molecular formula has just whole numbers. This ratio of atoms times 3:

Carbon = 3

Nitrogen = 3

Oxygen = 9

Hydrogen = 5

C₃H₅N₃O₉. Molar mass of this formula is:

C = 12.01g/mol*3 = 36.03g/mol

H = 1.01g/mol*5 = 5.05g/mol

N = 14g/mol*3 = 42g/mol

O = 16g/mol*9 = 144g/mol

Molar mass:

36.03g/mol + 5.05g/mol + 42g/mol + 144g/mol = 227g/mol ≈ 226.8g/mol

That means molecular formula of nitroglycerin is:

the answer is c. nacl