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You take an aspirin tablet (a compound consisting solely of carbon, hydrogen, an

ID: 481551 • Letter: Y

Question

You take an aspirin tablet (a compound consisting solely of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen) with a mass of 1.00 g, burn it in air, and collect 2.20 g of carbon dioxide and 0.400 g water. The molar mass of aspirin is between 170 and 190 g/mol. What is the molecular formula of aspirin?

Based on the information given above, fill the table below. It will help you solve this problem. Please show your calculation in the second page after the table.

Mass of aspirin tablet sample

C

Mass of CO2 collected

Mole of CO2 collected

Mole of C in the sample of aspirin tablet

Mass of C in the sample of aspirin tablet

H

Mass of H2O collected

Mole of H2O collected

Mole of H in the sample of aspirin tablet

Mass of H in the sample of aspirin tablet

O

Mass of O in the sample of aspirin tablet

Mole of O in the sample of aspirin tablet

Mole ratio of C, H and O in the sample of aspirin tablet

The simplest whole number mole ratio of C, H, and O in the sample of aspirin tablet

Empirical formula of aspirin

Molecular formula of aspirin

Mass of aspirin tablet sample

C

Mass of CO2 collected

Mole of CO2 collected

Mole of C in the sample of aspirin tablet

Mass of C in the sample of aspirin tablet

H

Mass of H2O collected

Mole of H2O collected

Mole of H in the sample of aspirin tablet

Mass of H in the sample of aspirin tablet

O

Mass of O in the sample of aspirin tablet

Mole of O in the sample of aspirin tablet

Mole ratio of C, H and O in the sample of aspirin tablet

The simplest whole number mole ratio of C, H, and O in the sample of aspirin tablet

Empirical formula of aspirin

Molecular formula of aspirin

Explanation / Answer

Mass of aspirin tablet sample

1 g

C

Mass of CO2 collected

2.20 g

Mole of CO2 collected

0.0500 mol

Mole of C in the sample of aspirin tablet

0.0500 mol

Mass of C in the sample of aspirin tablet

0.601 g

H

Mass of H2O collected

0.400 g

Mole of H2O collected

0.022 mol

Mole of H in the sample of aspirin tablet

0.044 mol

Mass of H in the sample of aspirin tablet

0.0444 g

O

Mass of O in the sample of aspirin tablet

0.354 g

Mole of O in the sample of aspirin tablet

0.0221 mol

Mole ratio of C, H and O in the sample of aspirin tablet

0.0500:0.044:0.0221

The simplest whole number mole ratio of C, H, and O in the sample of aspirin tablet

2.25:2:1

Empirical formula of aspirin

C2.25H2O

Molecular formula of aspirin

C9H8O4

Calculation and explanation:

Given, mass of CO2 collected = 2.20 g
Mole of CO2 = 2.20 g/ 44.009 g/mol
= 0.0500 mol
And Mole of C in the sample of aspirin tablet = mole of CO2 collected
= 0.0500 mol …………………..….…1
Therefore, mass of C in the sample of aspirin tablet = 0.0500 mol x 12.011 g/mol=0.601 g

Also given, the mass of H2O collected = 0.400 g
Mole of H2O collected = 0.400 g/18.02 g/mol
= 0.022 mol
And, mole of H in the sample of aspirin tablet = 2 x mole of H2O collected
= 2 x 0.022
= 0.044 mol ……………………………2
Therefore, mass of H in the sample of aspirin tablet = 0.044 mol x 1.008 g/mol
= 0.0444 g

It is also mentioned in the question that the mass of aspirin tablet sample = 1 g
Therefore, mass of O in the sample of aspirin tablet = 1.00 – (mass of H and C)
= 1.00 - ( 0.0444 + 0.601)
= 1.00 -0.6454
= 0.354 g
Hence, Mole of O in the sample of aspirin tablet = 0.354 g/15.999 g/mol
= 0.0221 mol………………………….3

From 1, 2 and 3, the molar ratio of C, H and O in the sample of aspirin tablet i.e.,
C: H: O = 0.0500: 0.044: 0.0221
Dividing it by 0.0221, we get the simplest whole number molar ratio of C, H, and O in the sample of aspirin tablet = 2.25: 2: 1

Hence, the empirical formula of aspirin = C2.25H2O
And multiplying the empirical formula by 4 we get the molecular formula of aspirin = C9H8O4
Thus, the molar mass of aspirin =180g/mol

Mass of aspirin tablet sample

1 g

C

Mass of CO2 collected

2.20 g

Mole of CO2 collected

0.0500 mol

Mole of C in the sample of aspirin tablet

0.0500 mol

Mass of C in the sample of aspirin tablet

0.601 g

H

Mass of H2O collected

0.400 g

Mole of H2O collected

0.022 mol

Mole of H in the sample of aspirin tablet

0.044 mol

Mass of H in the sample of aspirin tablet

0.0444 g

O

Mass of O in the sample of aspirin tablet

0.354 g

Mole of O in the sample of aspirin tablet

0.0221 mol

Mole ratio of C, H and O in the sample of aspirin tablet

0.0500:0.044:0.0221

The simplest whole number mole ratio of C, H, and O in the sample of aspirin tablet

2.25:2:1

Empirical formula of aspirin

C2.25H2O

Molecular formula of aspirin

C9H8O4

Calculation and explanation:

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