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2024 O Level Chem P1 Q14 — Stoichiometry / Empirical Formula Solution

Stoichiometry / Empirical Formula 2024 O Level Pure Chemistry · Paper 1 · Q14

Question

10.00g of an alcohol contains twice as much by mass of oxygen as it does hydrogen. The percentage by mass of hydrogen in the alcohol is 13.33%. What is the empirical formula of the alcohol?
  1. AC₂H₆O
  2. BC₃H₈O
  3. CC₄H₁₀O
  4. DC₅H₁₂O₂
Correct answer: B

Video Solution

Explanation

Answer: B. Find the percentage of each element first.

%H = 13.33%. Oxygen is twice the mass of hydrogen, so %O = \(2 \times 13.33\% = 26.67\%\). The remainder is carbon: %C = \(100 - 13.33 - 26.67 = 60\%\).

Convert to moles per 100 g sample: C = 60/12 = 5.00; H = 13.33/1 = 13.33; O = 26.67/16 = 1.667.

Divide by the smallest (1.667): C : H : O = 3 : 8 : 1.

Empirical formula = \(\text{C}_3\text{H}_8\text{O}\) (propan-1-ol or propan-2-ol).

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