CCC Chuen Yuen College Ch.12.

4 Exercise 2 (S4 Chemistry) (2020-21)

Name: __________________ Class: __________ Class no.: __________

Ch.12.4 Determination of molecular formulae

1. The fuel used in the torch for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games was an alkane X with the
following composition by mass: C: 81.8%   H:18.2%. If its relative molecular mass is 44.0.
Deduce what X could be. (3 marks)

C H

% by mass 81.8 18.2

Number of moles of 81.8 18.2

atoms (mol) 12 1

= 6.82 = 18.2

Atom ratio 6.82 18.2

6.82 6.82

=1 = 2.67

1×3=3 2.67 × 3 = 8.01

(1)
Molecular formula is (C3H8 ) n  (1)
n × (12 × 3 + 1 × 8) = 44.0
                  n = 1

∴ X is propane/ C3H8. (1)

2. Compound W contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen only. The relative molecular mass of
W is 88.0. Complete combustion of 1.32g of W gives 2.64g of carbon dioxide and 1.08g
of water. Deduce the molecular formula of W. (3 marks)

C H O

Mass 12.0 1.0 ×2 1.32−0.72−0.12=0.48

2.64 × 1.08 ×
12.0+16.0 ×2 1.0× 2+16.0

¿ 0.72 ¿ 0.12

Number of 0.72 0.12 0.48

moles of 12 1 16
atoms
(mol) = 0.06 = 0.12 = 0.03

Atom ratio 0.06 0.12 0.03

0.03 0.03 0.03

=2 =4 =1
CCC Chuen Yuen College Ch.12.4 Exercise 2 (S4 Chemistry) (2020-21)
(1)
Empirical formula is C2H4O
Molecular formula is (C2H4O ) n  (1)
n × (12 × 2 + 1 × 4 + 16 × 1) = 88.0
                  n = 2
Molecular formula of W is C4H8O2  (1)

3. 13.07 g of hydrated sodium carbonate, Na2CO3 • nH2O, on strong heating, gave 8.23 g of
water. Calculate the value of n. (3 marks)

Mass of anhydrous Na2CO3 = (13.07 – 8.23) g = 4.84 g (1)

Na2CO3 H2O

Mass 4.84 8.23

Number of moles of 4.84 8.23

formula units (mol) 106.0 18.0

= 0.0457 = 0.457

Mole ratio of formula 0.0457 0.457

units 0.0457 0.0457

=1 = 10

(1)
∴ The value of n is 10. (1)