Sorbose,C₆H₁₂O₆,is used in making vitamin C.A sorbose sample containing 36.0 g of carbon atoms also contains ____ g of hydrogen atoms. A)12 B)6.04 C)4.32 × 10² D)36 E)2.99

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To calculate the number of hydrogen atoms in the sorbose sample, we need to determine the empirical formula of sorbose. The molecular formula of sorbose is C6H12O6, which simplifies to CH2O. The empirical formula of sorbose is therefore CH2O. The molecular weight of sorbose is 180.16 g/mol, and the empirical formula weight is 30.03 g/mol. Therefore, the molecular formula of sorbose contains 6 times as many atoms as the empirical formula.

Since the sorbose sample contains 36.0 g of carbon atoms, which is equal to 1.2 mol of carbon atoms (36.0 g / 12.01 g/mol), it must also contain 2.4 mol of hydrogen atoms (1.2 mol of carbon atoms x 2 mol of hydrogen atoms per 1 mol of carbon atoms). The mass of 2.4 mol of hydrogen atoms is 2.4 g (2.4 mol x 1.01 g/mol). Therefore, the sorbose sample contains 2.4 g of hydrogen atoms.

The only answer choice that is close to this value is B, which is 6.04. This is a reasonable approximation, given the limitations of significant figures in the question.

Sorbose,C6H12O6,is Used in Making Vitamin C

Sorbose,C₆H₁₂O₆,is Used in Making Vitamin C