Stuck on an Empirical Formula Problem

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the empirical formula of pyridine based on experimental data from a combustion reaction. Participants explore the relationships between the products of combustion (carbon dioxide and water) and the composition of pyridine, which contains carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the problem of finding the empirical formula of pyridine from combustion data, noting the sample mass and the masses of carbon dioxide and water produced.
  • Another participant asks for details on the number of moles of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen in the sample, indicating a need for a step-by-step approach.
  • A participant mentions the stoichiometric relationship between water and carbon dioxide produced, suggesting a ratio but expresses uncertainty about the nitrogen content due to lack of information.
  • Another participant reiterates the uncertainty regarding nitrogen and questions how to calculate the mass of carbon and hydrogen from the combustion products.
  • One participant expresses satisfaction with the assistance received, indicating that their problem was resolved.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on how to incorporate nitrogen into the calculations, and there remains uncertainty about the complete composition of pyridine based on the provided data.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in the information provided, particularly regarding the nitrogen content in pyridine and how to utilize the mass of the sample effectively in calculations.

Themaster711
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Pyridine is recovered from coke-oven gases and is used extensively in the chemical industry, in particular, in the synthesis of vitamins and drugs. Pyridine contains carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. A 0.546 g sample was burned to produce 1.518 g of carbon dioxide and 0.311 g of water. Determine the empirical formula of pyridine.

Please show me step by step. I can't seem to figure this out.
 
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Show what you have tried. How many moles of carbon in the sample? Of hydrogen? Of nitrogen?
 
By using the masses given, I was able to find that for every H2O that is created, there will be 2 CO2 created. I do not know anything about the nitrogen because nothing is said about it in the question. Also, the mass given for the pyridine does me no good because I do not know the formula for it. So far my pyridine is C?H?N?.
 
Themaster711 said:
I do not know anything about the nitrogen because nothing is said about it in the question. Also, the mass given for the pyridine does me no good because I do not know the formula for it.

What is mass of carbon in CO2? Hydrogen in H2O? Can you use this information to calculate mass of nitrogen?
 
Thank you so much. That was all I needed. Problem solved.
 
You are welcome.
 

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