Question

vanillin is composed of carbon,63.2%; hydrogen,5.26% and oxygen, 31.6%. What is the empirical formula of vanillin? I tried changing the percentages into grams then converted them to moles, after that I divided each element by the smallest amount of moles then multiplied to get whole numbers but my answer was wrong. Step by step work out please. thx :)

Answer 1

ok so you did well first step:
C - 63,2/12,011 = 5,26184
H - 5,26/1,008 = 5,218254
O - 31,6/15,999=1,975123
now you divide with O
C - 5,26184/1,975123 = 2,664
H - 5,218254/1,975123= 2,642
O - 1,975123/1,975123 = 1
now you have their atomic ratios and now you need to guess, i mean multiply, lets try with 2
2*2,664 = 5,328
and right away you know it isnt 2, so lets try 3
3*2,664 = 7,992
3*2,642 = 7,926
3*1 = 3
so that is your answer C8H8O3

Answer 2

thank you!:)