Ethyl alcohol contains 52.18% carbon, 13.04% hydrogen, 34.78% oxygen.

Ethyl alcohol contains 52.18% carbon, 13.04% hydrogen, 34.78% oxygen. The hydrogen vapor density of alcohol is 23. Determine the formula of ethyl alcohol.

Let’s find the molecular weight of ethyl alcohol:

M (alcohol) = M (H2) * DH2 (alcohol) = 2 * 23 = 46 (amu).

Mass ratio of elements in a given compound:

w (C): w (H): w (O) = 52.18: 13.04: 34.78

Taking into account the atomic masses of the elements, let’s move on to the quantitative ratio:

n (C): n (H): n (O) = w (C) / M (C): w (H) / M (H): w (O) / M (O) =

52.18 / 12: 13.04 / 1: 34.78 / 16 = 4.35: 13.04: 2.17 = 2: 6: 1.

This means that in a molecule of ethyl alcohol there are 6 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom per 2 carbon atoms, hence the simplest formula of ethyl alcohol: C2H6O or C2H5OH.

To check, we find the molecular weight of C2H5OH:

M (C2H5OH) = 12 * 2 + 6 + 16 = 46 (amu), which corresponds to the condition.

Answer: C2H5OH.