The compound known as butylated hydroxytoluene, abbreviated as BHT, contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. A 1.501 g sample of BHT was combusted in an oxygen rich environment to produce 4.497 g of CO2(g) and 1.473 g of H2O(g). Insert subscripts below to appropriately display the empirical formula of BHT.

C15H24O

Explanation:

n(C) = 4.497 g/44g/mol = 0.1022

Mass of C = 0.1022 × 12 = 1.226 g

n(H) = 1.473g/18 g/mol = 0.0823 ×2 moles = 0.165 moles

Mass of H = 0.0823 × 2 ×1 = 0.165g

Mass of O= 1.501 -(1.226 + 0.165)

Mass of O= 0.11 g

Number of moles of O = 0.11g/16g/mol = 0.0069 moles

Dividing through by the lowest ratio;

0.1022/0.0069, 0.165/0.0069, 0.0069/0.0069

15, 24, 1

Hence the formula is;

C15H24O

go to the black logo in top left corner of page and click and you are there