A 3.06 gram sample of an unknown hydrocarbon with empirical formula CH2O was found to contain 0.0170 moles of the substance. What are the molecular mass and molecular formula, respectively, of the compound

180 amu

C₆H₁₂O₆

Explanation:

Step 1: Determine the molecular mass of the compound

The sample has a mass (m) of 3.06 g and it contains (n) 0.0170 moles. The molar mass M is:

M = m/n = 3.06/0.0170 mol = 180 g/mol

Then, the molecular mass is 180 amu.

Step 2: Determine the molar mass of the empirical formula.

M(CH₂O) = 1 × M(C) + 2 × M(H) + 1 × M(O)

M(CH₂O) = 1 × 12 g/mol + 2 × 1 g/mol + 1 × 16 g/mol = 30 g/mol

Step 3: Determine the molecular formula

First, we will determine "n" according to the following expression.

n = molar mass molecular formula / molar mass empirical formula

n = 180 g/mol / 30 g/mol = 6

The molecular formula is:

n × CH₂O = 6 × CH₂O = C₆H₁₂O₆