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2021 O Level Chem P1 Q10 — Stoichiometry / Empirical and Molecular Formula Solution

Stoichiometry / Empirical and Molecular Formula 2021 O Level Pure Chemistry · Paper 1 · Q10

Question

Analysis of molecule X shows that it contains, by mass, 52% carbon, 13% hydrogen and 35% oxygen. Which information is needed to determine the molecular formula?
  1. Aatomic numbers of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and relative molecular mass of X
  2. Batomic numbers of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen only
  3. Crelative atomic masses of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and relative molecular mass of X
  4. Drelative atomic masses of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen only
Correct answer: C

Video Solution

Explanation

Answer: C. From the percentage by mass you can work out the mole ratio of the elements and hence the empirical formula — but to convert a percentage into moles you need the relative atomic masses (Aᵣ) of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, not their atomic numbers.

The empirical formula only gives the simplest whole-number ratio. To find the molecular formula you also need the relative molecular mass (Mᵣ) of X, so you can work out how many empirical units make up one molecule.

So the information needed is the relative atomic masses of C, H and O and the relative molecular mass of X — option C. Options using atomic numbers (A, B) are wrong; option D omits Mᵣ and so cannot give the molecular formula.

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