Find the molecular and empiral formula

[tommyjohn]

Homework Statement

Digiton is a substance that technologists use to determine cholesterol levels. It contains only (C,H, and O) and its percent composition is 54.71% C, 7.54% H, and 37.74% O by mass. The experimentally determined molecular mass is 1229g/mol. What is the empirical amd molecular 1 formula for digiton?

The Attempt at a Solution

ok so C=12g, H=1g and O=16g

First,
54.71/12= 4.56 mol
7.54/1= 7.54 mol
37.74/16= 2.36 mol

Secondly, I got to divide by the smallest number which in this case is 2.36
4.56/2.36= 1.9~2
7.54/2.36= 3.2
2.36/2.36=1
since 3.2 is to far away i multplied it by 5 to get a number that i can round. My end solution for the empirical formula was C10H15O5.

Now to get the molecular i found the grams in the empirical which was 215g. Now 1229/215=5.7 which i THINK i have to get a whole number and it took me x3 to get 17.1 which can be rounded to 17. So I am stuck on to what to do in finding the molecular formula if everything above this is right which I am fairly confident it is.. please help

 

[PhaseShifter]

You may want to attempt solving for the molecular formula first--you're given all the information necessary to calculate moles of each element per mole of compound.

Then divide by the greatest common factor to get the empirical formula.

 

[Borek]

My end solution for the empirical formula was C10H15O5.

Empirical formula should contain lowest possible numbers. 5, 10 and 15 are all multiplies of the same smaller number.

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