Cumene containing only carbon and hydrogen is used in the production of acetone and phenol, combustion of 47.6mg cumene produces some CO2 and 42.8mg water. The molar mass of cumene is between 115 and 125 g/mol. determine the empirical and molecular formulas...
now I've been working on it forever and if any one could tell me the steps to get to the answer of C3H4, C9H12 that were given it would be MUCH appreciated
2007-11-06 14:04:14 · 1 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
thank you I never would've figured it out!
2007-11-06 14:40:58 · update #1
Since the hydrogen for water comes from the cumene, you can find the millimoles of water (42.8/18= about 2.4). That means 4.8 mg hydrogen is in the 47.6 mg and the other 42.8 mg is carbon. At 1 millimole to 12 mg, thats about 3.6 millimole carbon. Roughly you should have a C3H4 empirical formula, with empirical formula weight of 40, triple this or C9H12 would be in the 115-125 mg/mg-mole range.
2007-11-06 14:18:05 · answer #1 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋