An organic compound has an empirical formula of C₂H₃O and had an approximate molecular weight of 86. What is its molecular formula?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

1. Find the empirical formula mass by summing the atomic masses of the elements in the empirical formula: C = 12.01, S = 32.06, U = 238.03, B = 10.81, H = 1.01, O = 16.00 Empirical formula mass = (1 x 12.01) + (2 x 32.06) + (2 x 238.03) + (12 x 10.81) + (13 x 1.01) + (16 x 16.00) = 1045.86 2. Divide the approximate molecular weight (86) by the empirical formula mass (1045.86) to get the empirical formula multiplier: 86/1045.86 = 0.0822 3. Multiply each subscript in the empirical formula by the empirical formula multiplier: C: 1 x 0.0822 = 0.0822 → round to 1 S: 1 x 0.0822 = 0.0822 → round to 1 U: 1 x 0.0822 = 0.0822 → round to 1 B: 12 x 0.0822 = 0.9864 → round to 1 H: 1 x 0.0822 = 0.0822 → round to 1 O: 13 x 0.0822 = 1.0686 → round to 1 The resulting molecular formula is: CHOB is rounded to 1 in the molecular formula as decimals are not allowed in subscripts. Therefore, the correct answer is B.

An Organic Compound Has an Empirical Formula of C2H3O and Had

An Organic Compound Has an Empirical Formula of C₂H₃O and Had