Question

A compound contains 75% carbon and 25% hydrogen by mass. What is the empirical formula for this compound?

CH
C4H
CH4
C2H8

Answer 1

Answer: The empirical formula for this compound is CH4

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

The empirical formula would be CH4.


“To get the empirical formula of the compound, we convert each mass percentage to mole percentage by dividing each to corresponding molar mass. 75% mass of carbon is 6.25 while 25% hydrogen is 25. We divide 25 by 6.25, we get 4. Hence, the empirical formula is CH4.”