Question

60 g of a compound on analysis produced 24 g carbon, 4 g hydrogen, and 32 g oxygen. The empirical formula of the compound is

• A. $C{H}_2{O}_2$
• B. $C{H}_{2}O$
• C. $C{H}_{4}O$
• D. $C_2{H}_4{O}_2$

Answer 1

The correct option is B $C{H}_{2}O$

percentage of carbon in given compound = $\frac{24}{60}\ast 100$ = 40%

percentage of hydrogen in given compound = $\frac{4}{60}\ast 100$ = 6.66%

percentage of oxygen in given compound = $\frac{32}{60}\ast 100$ = 53.33%

$C_{40}{H}_{6.66}{O}_{53.33}=C_{40/12}{H}_{6.66/1}{O}_{53.33/16}$

$C_{3.33}{H}_{6.66}{O}_{3.33}\Rightarrow C{H}_{2}O$