Answer:
Empirical formula is C3H3O
Molecular formula C9H9O3
Explanation:
From the question given, we obtained the following data:
Carbon = 63.15%
Hydrogen = 5.30%
Oxygen = 31.55%
We can obtain the empirical and molecular formula by doing the following as illustrated in the attached file. Please see attachment for explanation.
Answer:
the empirical formula = the molecular formula = C8H8O3
Explanation:
Step 1: Data given
Suppose the mass is 100.0 grams
Mandelic acid contains:
Carbon: 63.15 % = 63.15 grams
Hydrogen: 5.30 % = 5.30 grams
Oxygen: 31.55 % = 31.55 grams
Molar mass C = 12.01 g/mol
Molar mass H = 1.01 g/mol
Molar mass O = 16.00 g/mol
Step 2: Calculate moles
Moles = mass / molar mass
Moles C = 63.15 grams / 12.01 g/mol
Moles C = 5.258 moles
Moles H = 5.30 grams / 1.01 g/mol
Moles H = 5.25 moles
Moles O = 31.55 grams / 16.00 g/mol
Moles O = 1.97 moles
Step 3: Calculate mol ratio
We divide by the smallest amount of moles
C: 5.258 moles / 1.97 = 2.67
H: 5.25 / 1.97 = 2.66
O: 1.97 / 1.97
The empirical formula is C8H8O3
The molecular mass of this empirical formula is 152.14 g/mol
This means the empirical formula = the molecular formula = C8H8O3
