Find the empirical formula and the molecular formula of an organic compound from the data given below:

ICSE Class 10 Chemistry PYQ · 2019 Paper · Section II

6(c)Written · 2019 · Section II · 2019 Paper

Find the empirical formula and the molecular formula of an organic compound from the data given below:

C = 75.92%, H = 6.32% and N = 17.76%

The vapour density of the compound is 39.5.

[C = 12, H = 1, N = 14]

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Element% compositionAt. wt.Relative no. of atomsSimplest ratio
Carbon75.9212$\frac{75.92}{12}$ = 6.32$\frac{ 6.32 }{ 1.26}$ = 5
Hydrogen6.321$\frac{6.32}{1}$ = 6.32$\frac{6.32 }{ 1.26}$ = 5
Nitrogen17.7614$\frac{ 17.76}{14}$ = 1.26$\frac{ 1.26}{ 1.26}$ = 1

Simplest ratio of whole numbers = C : H : N = 5 : 5 : 1

Hence, empirical formula is C5H5N

Empirical formula weight = 5(12) + 5(1) + 14 = 79

V.D. = 39.5

Molecular weight = 2 x V.D. = 2 x 39.5 = 79

$$\begin{aligned}\text{n} = \frac{\text{Molecular weight}}{\text{Empirical formula weight}} \\[0.5em] = \frac{79}{79} = 1\end{aligned}$$

∴ Molecular formula = n[E.F.] = 1[C5H5N] = C5H5N

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