Question

Question #72394

Answer 1

The answer is `CH_1.35O`.

The first step in determining Vitamin C's empirical formula is to divide each element's percentage by its atomic mass:

`"For C": 40.9/(12.0) = 3.41`

`"For H": 4.60/1.00 = 4.60`

`"For O:" 54.5/16.0 = 3.41`

You then divide each of these numbers by the smallest one to get the ratios of the three elements in the molecule:

`"For C": 3.41/3.41 = 1`

`"For H": 4.60/3.41 = 1.35`

`"For O:" 3.41/3.41 = 1`

Therefore, your empirical formula looks like this:

`C_1H_1.35O_1`, or `CH_1.35O`.