Di- Ethyl zinc is a chemical used in the library to protect books from worms, its composition is 53% Zinc, 38.9% Carbon, and 8.1% Hydrogen (At mass of Zn=65.4, C=12, H=1). Find the empirical formula of a compound

ZnC4H10

Explanation:

The empirical formula of a compound refers to the formula that gives the simplest whole number ratio of each atoms of the elements in the compound.

The empirical formula is calculated thus:

The given percentages in the question represent the mass in grams of each element in the compound.

Zinc= 53%, C= 38.9%, H= 8.1% which represents 53g, 38.9g and 8.1g of each element respectively.

Molar Mass of Zn= 65.4 g/mol

Molar Mass of C= 12 g/mol

Molar Mass of H= 1 g/mol

Step 1: Divide the mass of each element by the molar mass given to convert to moles:

Zn= 53/65.4 = 0.81moles

C= 38.9/12 = 3.24moles

H= 8.1/1 = 8.1moles

Step 2: Divide each mole value by the smallest number of moles calculated, which is 0.81moles:

Zn= 0.81/0.81 = 1

C= 3.24/0.81 = 4

H= 8.1/0.81= 10

This is the mole ratio represented in the subscript of each element in the empirical formula:

That is, Zn (1) C (4) H (10)

Empirical formula= ZnC4H10

water and alcohols have similar properties because water molecules contain hydroxyl groups that can form hydrogen bonds with other water molecules and with alcohol molecules, and likewise alcohol molecules can form hydrogen bonds with other alcohol molecules as well as with water.