Butyric acid is the odor of rancid cheese. calculate the empirical formula for butyric acid given its percent composition: 54.53% c, 9.15% h, and 36.32%.

Empirical formula is C₂H₄O

Explanation:

Given data:

Percentage of hydrogen = 9.15%

Percentage of carbon = 54.53%

Percentage of oxygen = 36.32%

Empirical formula of butyric acid = ?

Solution:

Number of gram atoms of H = 9.15 / 1.01 = 9.1

Number of gram atoms of O = 36.32 / 16 = 2.27

Number of gram atoms of C = 54.53 / 12 = 4.54

Atomic ratio:

            C                      :      H            :         O

           4.54/2.27        :     9.1/2.27     :       2.27/2.27

            2                      :        4         :        1

C : H : O = 2 : 4 : 1

Empirical formula is C₂H₄O.

a. a primary source combines several different accounts of an event. b. a primary source generally benefits from having been written after an event.

explanation: