Derive the formula for a substance containing 60% carbon, 13.33% hydrogen, the rest is oxygen
Derive the formula for a substance containing 60% carbon, 13.33% hydrogen, the rest is oxygen, and having a relative density for He equal to 15
Knowing the relative density of matter D by helium (15), we can calculate the molar mass of an unknown substance by multiplying D by the molar mass of helium.
M (He) = 4 g / mol
M = 15 * 4 = 60 g / mol
Mass fraction of element X in the compound is calculated by the following formula:
w (X) = n * A (X) / Mr,
where n is the number of atoms of element X in the compound,
Mr is the relative molecular weight of the compound.
Knowing Mr and w (X), we calculate n carbon, oxygen and hydrogen.
n (C) = w (C) * Mr / A (C) = 0.60 * 60/12 = 3
n (O) = w (O) * Mr / A (O) = 0.2667 * 60/16 = 1
n (H) = w (H) * Mr / A (H) = 0.1333 * 60/1 = 8
The simplest compound formula: C3H8O or C3H7OH – propanol.