The principal component of mothballs is naphthalene, a compound with a molecular mass of about 130 amu, containing only carbon and hydrogen. A 3.000-mg sample of naphthalene burns to give 10.3 mg of CO2. Determine its empirical and molecular formulas.

Empirical formula = C5H4

Molecular formula = C10H8

Explanation:

When the 3000 mg of naphthalene are burned they produce 10.3 mg of CO2. Knowing the unbalanced equation of the combustion of naphthalene, we have:

CxHy + O2 = CO2 + H2O

We calculate the molar composition of the sample. We look for the molecular weights in the periodic table:

CO2 = 12,011 + 2 (15,999) = 44,009 g

Mol C = 10.3 mg * (1 mol CO2 / 44.009 g CO2) * (1 mol C / 1 mol CO2) = 0.234 mmol C

Mass C = 0.234 mmol C * (12.011 g C / 1 mol C) = 2.8105 mg C

Mass H = 3 mg - 2.8105 mg = 0.1895 mg H

Mol H = 0.1895 mg H * (1 mol H / 1,008 g H) = 0.188 mmol H

To calculate the empirical formula, we must divide the number of moles of each element by the smallest number of moles, in this case, of hydrogen:

C = 0.2340 mmol C / 0.1895 mol H = 1.25

H = 0.1895 mmol H / 0.1895 mmol H = 1

We multiply the coefficients by 4, and we have the empirical formula:

C1.25 * 4H1 * 4 = C5H4

The molecular formula is equal to (C5H4)m, where m is calculated by the molecular and empirical mass ratio, as follows:

Empirical mass = (5 * 12.011) + (4 * 1.008) = 64.09 g

m = 130 g / 64.09 g = 2.02 = 2

Therefore we have the molecular formula:

(C5H4)2 = C10H8

each  column  of the  table  is called a group. elements in a group share similar properties. groups are  read  from  top  to  bottom. metal. metalloid. nonmetal. solid. liquid. gas. fe. hg. o.  2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.  2. beryllium. 9.012. 4.  sodium. 22.990.  11. 3.  magnesium. 24.305.  12.  potassium. 39.098.  19. 4.  calcium. 40.078.  20. i guess  i