Phenylbutazone can be synthesised, in a multi-step process, starting from compound A. Elemental microanalysis showed that compound A has a composition, by mass, of 50∙0% C; 5∙60% H; 44∙4% O Calculate the empirical formula of compound A?
1 Answer
Explanation:
An
50.0color(white)(l)"g" of carbon"C" 5.60color(white)(l)"g" of carbon"H" 44.4color(white)(l)"g" of carbon"O"
which corresponds to approximately
50.0/12~~25/6color(white)(l)"mol" of"C" 5.60/1~~28/5color(white)(l)"mol" of"H" 44.4/16~~25/9color(white)(l)"mol" of"O"
where
Coefficients in an empirical formula are expected to be whole numbers. Thus it would be necessary eliminate any fraction in these expressions. Multiplying the mass of the sample by
375color(white)(l)"mol" of"C" ,504color(white)(l)"mol" of"H" , and250color(white)(l)"mol" of"O"
in a
Dropping the last digit of
Factoring
Hence the empirical formula would be