The compound methyl butanoate smells like apples. Its percent composition is 58.8% C, 9.8% H, and 31.4% O, and its molar mass is 102 g/mol. Calculate the empirical and molecular formulas for this compound.

Question

Chemistry

Devon Livingston

5 April, 02:16

The compound methyl butanoate smells like apples. Its percent composition is 58.8% C, 9.8% H, and 31.4% O, and its molar mass is 102 g/mol. Calculate the empirical and molecular formulas for this compound.

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Answers (1)

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Briana Donovan · Answer 1

Let our basis for the calculation be 1 mol of the substance.

(1 mol) (102 g/mol) = 102 g

Determine the amount of C, H, and O in mole.

C = (102 g) (0.588) (1 mol/12 g) = 4.998 mols C

H = (102 g) (0.098) (1 mol/1 g) = 9.996 mols H

O = (102 g) (0.314) (1 mol/16 g) = 2 mols O

The empirical formula of the substance is C5H10O2. The molar mass of the empirical formula is 102. This means that this is also its molecular formula.