Combustion analysis of a 31.472 mg sample of the widely used flame retardant Decabrom gave 1.444 mg of CO2. Is the molecular formula of Decabrom C12Br10 or C12Br10O?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: The first step in solving this problem is to understand what combustion analysis is. Combustion analysis is a method used to determine the elemental composition of a substance. In this case, the combustion of Decabrom produces CO2, which contains the carbon from the original compound.
2. Step 2: We know that the mass of the CO2 produced is 1.444 mg. We also know that each molecule of CO2 contains one atom of carbon. Therefore, we can use the molar mass of carbon (12.01 g/mol) and the molar mass of CO2 (44.01 g/mol) to find the mass of carbon in the original sample. This can be done using the formula: (mass of CO2) x (molar mass of carbon / molar mass of CO2).
3. Step 3: Once we have the mass of carbon, we can subtract it from the total mass of the sample to find the mass of bromine. This can be done using the formula: (total mass of sample) - (mass of carbon).
4. Step 4: Now that we have the mass of carbon and bromine, we can find the number of moles of each element using their respective molar masses. The number of moles is calculated by dividing the mass by the molar mass.
5. Step 5: Finally, we can compare the ratio of moles of carbon to bromine in the sample to the ratio in the proposed formulas. If the ratio matches the formula C12Br10, then that is the correct formula. If it matches C12Br10O, then that is the correct formula. Remember, the molecular formula represents the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule of the compound.

Key Concepts

Combustion Analysis

Combustion analysis is a technique used to determine the composition of organic compounds by burning a sample in excess oxygen. The products of combustion, typically carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O), are measured to calculate the amounts of carbon and hydrogen in the original sample. This method is essential for deducing the empirical formula of a compound, which can then be used to infer its molecular formula.

Molecular vs. Empirical Formula

The molecular formula of a compound indicates the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule, while the empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of these atoms. Understanding the difference is crucial when analyzing combustion data, as the empirical formula derived from combustion analysis may not directly reflect the molecular formula, especially in compounds with multiple elements or complex structures.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry involves the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions based on the conservation of mass. In combustion analysis, stoichiometric relationships allow us to convert the mass of CO2 produced into moles of carbon, which can then be used to determine the carbon content of the original sample. This quantitative approach is vital for accurately deducing the molecular formula from experimental data.