Formulas Methyl

21Feb/09Off

Formulas Methyl

it consists of 58.80% c,9.87% H,31.33% O,what is the emperical formula of methyl butyrate?

C - 58.8 % --> 58.8 g --> 4.9 mol --> 2.5 --> 5

H - 9.87 % --> 9.87 g --> 9.87 mol --> 5 --> 10

O - 31.33 % --> 31.33 g --> 1.95 mol --> 1 --> 2

The empirical formula of the compound is C5H10O2

Steps for Finding Empirical Formula:

1. Convert percent to mass (g).
2. Find the number of moles by dividing by molar mass
3. Divide all the mole values by the smallest one.
4. If any of the answers are a decimal then multiply all them to make them all whole (ie. for the example above I multiplied all by 2)