A student calculates the empirical formula of a compound to be C1.5H3.5. Express this as a correct empirical formula.
C3 H7 because you have to use whole numbers.
To express the empirical formula correctly, you need to convert the subscripts of the elements to the smallest whole numbers possible. Let's start by understanding what the given empirical formula, C1.5H3.5, means.
1. Determine the common factor: In this case, the common factor for both carbon and hydrogen is 0.5.
2. Multiply to remove the decimal: Multiply both subscripts by 2 to remove the decimal:
C1.5 x 2 = C3
H3.5 x 2 = H7
Therefore, the empirical formula can be expressed as CH7.
To express the empirical formula correctly, we need to simplify the ratios of the elements in the compound.
In this case, the empirical formula C1.5H3.5 can be simplified by dividing both subscripts by the smallest common factor, which in this case is 0.5.
Dividing C1.5 by 0.5 gives C3, and dividing H3.5 by 0.5 gives H7.
Therefore, the correct empirical formula for the compound is C3H7.