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Ch.3 - Mass Relationships in Chemical Reactions

Chapter 3, Problem 35

A hydrocarbon of unknown formula CxHy was submitted to combustion analysis with the following results. What is the empirical formula of the hydrocarbon?

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Hey everyone, we're told that the results of the combustion study of an unidentified hydrocarbon, with the formula of C X H Y were as follows, identified the empirical formula for the hydrocarbon. Now looking at our diagram, we can see that we have water and carbon dioxide molecules floating around. So our X. Is going to be the coefficient of our carbon dioxide. Looking at our diagram, we can see that we have 123 and four of our carbon dioxide. So this means that we have four of carbon. Next looking at ry, why will stand for the coefficient of water. Looking at our water molecules, we can see that we have 1234 and five. We have five of our water molecules. But since waters formula tells us that we have two of hydrogen, This means we have to multiply five times two, so this gets us to 10 hydrogen. So the empirical formula for our hydrocarbon is going to be C4 H 10. Now, I hope this made sense. And let us know if you have any questions