Combustion analysis of naphthalene, a hydrocarbon used in mothballs, produces 8.80 g CO₂ and 1.44 g H₂O. Calculate the empirical formula of naphthalene.

Key Concepts

Combustion Analysis

Combustion analysis is a technique used to determine the composition of organic compounds by burning them 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 compound. This method is essential for deriving empirical formulas from the mass of combustion products.

Empirical Formula

The empirical formula of a compound represents the simplest whole-number ratio of the elements present in that compound. It is derived from the moles of each element calculated from the mass of the combustion products. For hydrocarbons, the empirical formula provides insight into the basic composition of the molecule, which can be further used to determine the molecular formula.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the quantitative relationships between the reactants and products in a chemical reaction. In combustion analysis, stoichiometric calculations are used to convert the masses of CO2 and H2O produced into moles of carbon and hydrogen, which are then used to find the empirical formula. Understanding stoichiometry is crucial for accurately interpreting experimental data.