Terephthalic acid, used in the production of polyester fibers and films, is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. When 0.6943 g of terephthalic acid was subjected to combustion analysis it produced 1.471 g CO2 and 0.226 g H2O. If its molar mass is between 158 and 167 g/mol, what is its molecular formula?

Respuesta :

Answer:

[tex]C_8O_4H_{6}[/tex]

Explanation:

[tex]Moles =Given\ mass \times {Molar\ mass}[/tex]

Mass of water obtained = 0.226 g

Molar mass of water = 18 g/mol

Moles of [tex]H_2O[/tex] = 0.226 g /18 g/mol = 0.0125556 moles

2 moles of hydrogen atoms are present in 1 mole of water. So,

Moles of H = 2 x 0.0125556 = 0.0251112 moles

Molar mass of H atom = 1.008 g/mol

Mass of H in molecule = 0.0251112 x 1.008 = 0.02531 g

Mass of carbon dioxide obtained = 1.471 g

Molar mass of carbon dioxide = 44.01 g/mol

Moles of [tex]CO_2[/tex] = 1.471 g  /44.01 g/mol = 0.03342 moles

1 mole of carbon atoms are present in 1 mole of carbon dioxide. So,

Moles of C = 0.03342 moles

Molar mass of C atom = 12.0107 g/mol

Mass of C in molecule = 0.03342 x 12.0107 = 0.4014 g

Given that the Terephthalic acid only contains hydrogen, oxygen and carbon. So,

Mass of O in the sample = Total mass - Mass of C  - Mass of H

Mass of the sample = 0.6943 g

Mass of O in sample = 0.6943 - 0.4014 - 0.02531 = 0.2676 g  

Molar mass of O = 15.999 g/mol

Moles of O  = 0.2676  / 15.999  = 0.01673 moles

Taking the simplest ratio for H, O and C as:

0.0251112 : 0.01673 : 0.03342

= 3 : 2 : 4

The empirical formula is = [tex]C_4O_2H_3[/tex]

Molecular formulas is the actual number of atoms of each element in the compound while empirical formulas is the simplest or reduced ratio of the elements in the compound.

Thus,  

Molecular mass = n × Empirical mass

Where, n is any positive number from 1, 2, 3...

Mass from the Empirical formula = 4×12 + 3×1 + 2×16= 83 g/mol

158 g/mol < Molar mass > 167 g/mol

So,  

Molecular mass = n × Empirical mass

158 g/mol < 83 n > 167 g/mol

⇒ n ≅ 2

The formula of Terephthalic acid = [tex]C_8O_4H_{6}[/tex]