Asample of an unknown compound contains 82.63% c, and 17.37% h. determine the empirical formula.

The actual amount of substance doesn’t matter for this problem, so assume an easy mass of compound using the percentages: 82.63 g C and 17.37 g H. There is also no need to worry about significant figures in an empirical formula problem.

Find the number of moles of each element:

Find the ratio of the elements, and simplify until there are whole numbers that you can put into the empirical formula.

There are 5 mol H for every 2 mol C, so the empirical formula should be .

explanation: it gains negative electrons, therefore becoming negatively charged. as charge cannot be created, nor destroyed, only transferred, this leaves the wool positive. now that they have opposite charges, the two items attract.

the answer is 303.15 or 303