Chapter 7: Problem 66
Write the empirical formula for each of the following: ( \(7.4)\) a. \(\mathrm{C}_{12} \mathrm{H}_{24} \mathrm{~N}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}\), carisoprodol, a skeletal muscle relaxant b. \(\mathrm{C}_{10} \mathrm{H}_{10} \mathrm{O}_{5}\), opianic acid, used to synthesize a drug to treat tuberculosis c. \(\mathrm{CrCl}_{3}\), chromium(III) chloride, used in chrome plating d. \(\mathrm{C}_{16} \mathrm{H}_{16} \mathrm{~N}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{2}\), lysergic acid, a controlled substance from ergot
Short Answer
Step by step solution
- Identify the subscripts in the molecular formula (Part a)
- Find the Greatest Common Divisor (GCD) (Part a)
- Divide each subscript by the GCD (Part a)
- Identify the subscripts in the molecular formula (Part b)
- Find the GCD (Part b)
- Divide each subscript by the GCD (Part b)
- Identify the subscripts in the molecular formula (Part c)
- Find the GCD (Part c)
- Divide each subscript by the GCD (Part c)
- Identify the subscripts in the molecular formula (Part d)
- Find the GCD (Part d)
- Divide each subscript by the GCD (Part d)
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
chemical formula
There are different types of chemical formulas:
- Empirical formulas: Show the simplest whole-number ratio of elements in a compound. For example, the empirical formula of hydrogen peroxide (\(\text{H}_2\text{O}_2\)) is \(\text{HO}\).
- Molecular formulas: Provide the actual number of each type of atom in a molecule. Hydrogen peroxide, for instance, has a molecular formula of \(\text{H}_2\text{O}_2\).
- Structural formulas: Show how atoms in a molecule are bonded together, giving a clearer picture of a molecule’s structure.
greatest common divisor
- To find the GCD of two numbers, use methods like the Euclidean algorithm or prime factorization.
- For example, to simplify the formula \(\text{C}_{12}\text{H}_{24}\text{N}_2\text{O}_4\) for carisoprodol, the subscripts are 12, 24, 2, and 4.
- The GCD of 12, 24, 2, and 4 is 2. Dividing each subscript by 2, we get the empirical formula: \(\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{N}\text{O}_2\).
molecular formula
Understanding molecular formulas helps in:
- Determining the molar mass by summing the atomic masses of all atoms in the formula.
- Identifying isomers, which are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures.
The molecular formula provides a detailed picture of a compound's composition, vital for chemical synthesis and reactions.
chemical compounds
Characteristics and types of chemical compounds include:
- Ionic compounds: Formed by the electrostatic attraction between cations and anions. Example: \(\text{NaCl}\) (table salt).
- Covalent compounds: Formed by sharing electrons between atoms. Example: \(\text{H}_2\text{O}\) (water).
- Metallic compounds: Formed by a sea of shared electrons among metal atoms. Example: \(\text{Fe}\) (iron).