Question #c0a3d

2 Answers
May 4, 2016

"C"_5"H"_10

Explanation:

The idea here is that you can sue the vapor density of a gas to determine its molar mass.

Vapor density is calculated by looking at how many molecules of gas would occupy a given volume compared with the number of molecules of hydrogen gas, "H"_2, that would occupy the same volume under the same conditions for pressure and temperature.

Simply put, vapor density tells you the density of a gas relative to the density of hydrogen gas.

If you use the fact that the mass of a gas, i.e. how many molecules it contains, can be expressed using its molar mass, you can say that

color(blue)(|bar(ul(color(white)(a/a)"vapor density" = "molar mass of the gas"/"molar mas of H"_2color(white)(a/a)|)))

In your case, the unknown hydrocarbon is said to have a vapor density equal to 35. This means that its molar mass will be

35 = M_ "M gas"/M_ ("M H"_ 2) implies M_ "M gas" = 35 xx M_ ("M H"_2)

If you take the molar mass of hydrogen gas to be equal to "2 g mol"^(-1), you will end up with

M_"M gas" = 35 * "2 g mol"^(-1) = "70 g mol"^(-1)

Now, you know that you're dealing with a "0.70-g" sample of this gas "X". Use its molar mass to determine how many moles you have in this sample

0.70color(red)(cancel(color(black)("g"))) * "1 mole gas X"/(70color(red)(cancel(color(black)("g")))) = "0.010 moles X"

This sample is said to contain "0.60 g" of carbon and

m_"gas" = m_(C) + m_(H)

m_(H) = "0.70 g" - "0.60 g" = "0.10 g H"

Use the molar masses of the elements to determine how many moles of each you have

"For C: " 0.60 color(red)(cancel(color(black)("g"))) * "1 mole C"/(12color(red)(cancel(color(black)("g")))) = "0.050 moles C"

"For H: " 0.10 color(red)(cancel(color(black)("g"))) * "1 mole H"/(1color(red)(cancel(color(black)("g")))) = "0.10 moles H"

This is how many moles of each element you have in 0.010 moles of gas "X". In order to find the compound's molecular formula, you need to figure out how many moles of each element you have in 1 mole of gas "X".

In your case, you will have

1 color(red)(cancel(color(black)("mole X"))) * "0.050 moles C"/(0.010color(red)(cancel(color(black)("moles X")))) = "5 moles C"

1 color(red)(cancel(color(black)("mole X"))) * "0.10 moles H"/(0.010color(red)(cancel(color(black)("moles X")))) = "10 moles H"

Therefore, the hydrocarbon's molecular formula is

color(green)(|bar(ul(color(white)(a/a)"C"_5"H"_10color(white)(a/a)|)))

May 4, 2016

C_5H_10

Explanation:

Let the molecular formula of the Hydrocarbon be C_xH_y . ,Where x= no. Of C-atom and y = no of H-atom present in one molecule of HC.We know that the ”atomic mass of “C =12g/(mol) and “atomic mass of H”=1g/(mol)

So the ratio of masses of Carbon and Hydrogen present in HC as per its molecular formula is (12x:y)

Now by the problem
0.7g HC contains 0.6g Carbon , So the rest amount i.e o.1g is Hydrogen. Hence the ratio of masses of C and H is 0.6:0.1=6:1 Comparing this ratio with the raio obtained from formula we can write:
(12x:y)=6:1=>(12x)/y=6/1=>x/y= 1/2
This ratio being least the empirical formula of HC will be CH_2

Now let the molecular formula of HC following the empirical formula be
(CH_2)_n , where n = common multlple. As per this MF the molar mass of HC is (12+1*2)*n=14n
Again the vapor density of HC given is 35. So its molar mass = 2xx"Vapor Density" g/(mol)=2*35=70g/(mol)

Comparing the molar masses now we can write
14n=70=>n=5
Now we can write MF as (CH_2)n=(CH_2)*5=C_5H_10

MF of HC is C_5H_10