Question

If the chemical analysis of a 10.000 g sample of oil of wintergreen shows that it consists of 6.320 g of carbon, 0.530 g of hydrogen, and 3.16 g of oxygen. What is the simplest formula for oil of wintergreen?

Answer 1

The simple formula  for  oil  of wintergreen  is  C8H8O3

   calculation

Step 1: calculate the moles each element  present in the oil of wintergreen.

    moles= mass/molar mass

 moles of carbon  (C)= 6.320g / 12.0 g/mol =0.527  moles

   moles of Hydrogen(H)= 0.530 g /1 g/mol = 0.530  moles

moles  of oxygen (O) = 3.16 g /16 g/mol = 0.198 moles

Step 2: calculate the mole ratio ( by dividing each mole by smallest mole=0.198 moles)

 =for carbon (c) = 0.527/0.198 = 2.7

   for hydrogen(H) = 0.530 / 0.198 = 2.7

 for   oxygen (O) = 0.198/0.198   =1

Step 3:  multiply each mole ratio  by 3 to remove the decimal

     =  for  C = 2.7 x3 =8

         for H= 2.7 x3 = 8

         for O = 1 x3 = 3

therefore  the simple formula is C8H8O3