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Ch.3 - Mass Relationships in Chemical Reactions
Chapter 3, Problem 100

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?

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

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.
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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.
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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.
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