Question

A compound used in making nylon is 43.8% oxygen. There are four oxygen atoms per molecule. What is the molecular weight of the compound?

Answer 1

Step 1: Given -

$100\mathrm{g}$ the compound contains $43.8$oxygen;
Step 2: Applying the mathematical formula

From simple mathematical formulation $1\mathrm{g}$ oxygen present with $\frac{100}{43.8}\mathrm{g}$ compound

Step 3: Calculation of molecular weight

Since the atomic weight of oxygen is $16$( given )

Thus by calculation,

$16\times 4\mathrm{g}$ or $4$ mole oxygen present with

$\frac{100}{43.8}\times 16\times 4$$\simeq 146\mathrm{g}$compound
Hence the compound is adipic acid and mol. wt. of adipic acid$\left({\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_{10}{\mathrm{O}}_4\right)$ is $146\mathrm{g}.$