Question

What is the molecular formula of a compound that contains 10.0g carbon, 1.68g hydrogen, and 13.4g oxygen

Answer 1

Answer:

CH2O

Explanation:

(view this on a laptop to avoid the spacing problems)

We can draw a chart to solve this:

                     Carbon                      Hydrogen                   Oxygen

mass(g)            10.0                            1.68                            13.4

no. of moles  10/12 = 0.83333      1.68/1 = 1.68            13.4/16=0.8375

ratio          0.83333/0.83333=1   1.68/0.8333≈2        0.8375/0.83333≈1

(divide by the smallest no. of mole- which is carbon)

Therefore, the molecular formula is CH2O.