An alcohol is 62.04 % C and 10.43 % H by mass. The rest is oxygen. What is the empirical formula of the alcohol

The empirical formula is

Explanation:

If percentage are given then we are taking total mass is 100 grams. So, the mass of each element is equal to the percentage given.

Mass of C = 62.04 g

Mass of H = 10.43

Mass of O = (100-(62.04+10.43)) g  = 27.53 g

Step 1 : convert given masses into moles.

Moles of C = moles

Moles of H =

Moles of O =

Step 2 : For the mole ratio, divide each value of moles by the smallest number of moles calculated.

For C =

For H =  

For O =

The ratio of C :H :  O= 3: 6 : 1

Hence the empirical formula is