5) Vanillin is composed of 63.15% carbon, 31.55% oxygen, and 5.30% hydrogen.
(Reminder that you may use gram units in place of % because we can assume a
100 gram sample). What is the empirical formula of vanillin?

A. C8H803
B. C5H602
C. C6H503
D. C4H603

The answer to your question is the letter A.C₈H₈O₃

Explanation:

Data

Carbon = 63.15%

Oxygen = 31.55%

Hydrogen = 5.30%

Process

1.- Express the percents as grams

Carbon = 63.15g

Oxygen = 31.55g

Hydrogen = 5.30g

2.- Convert the grams to moles

Carbon

MM = 12               12 g of C 1 mol

                           63.15 g     x

                               x = 63.15/12

                               x = 5.263

Hydrogen

MM = 1                    1 g of H 1 mol

                              5.3 g of H  x

                                 x = (5.3 x 1)/1

                                 x = 5.3 g

Oxygen

MM = 16                 16 g of O 1 mol

                            31.55 g of O  x

                                x = (31.55 x 1)/16

                                x = 1.972

2.- Divide each result by the lowest number of moles

Carbon      =  5.263/1.972 = 2.66

Hydrogen =   5.3/1.972 = 2.6

Oxygen     =   1.972/1.972 = 1

3.- Write the empirical formula

                          C₂.₆₆H₂.₆₆O₁

-But do not use decimals so, multiply by three of the formula

                         C₇.₉₈H₇.₉₈O₃  or C₈H₈O₃