The compound methyl butanoate smells like apples. Its percent composition is 58.8% C, 9.8% H, and 31.4% O, and its molar mass is 102 g/mol. Calculate the empirical and molecular formulas for this compound.
Let our basis for the calculation be 1 mol of the substance. (1 mol)(102 g/mol) = 102 g Determine the amount of C, H, and O in mole. C = (102 g)(0.588)(1 mol/12 g) = 4.998 mols C H = (102 g)(0.098)(1 mol/1 g) = 9.996 mols H O = (102 g)(0.314)(1 mol/16 g) = 2 mols O
The empirical formula of the substance is C5H10O2. The molar mass of the empirical formula is 102. This means that this is also its molecular formula.
