The characteristic odor of pineapple is due to ethyl butyrate, a compound containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. combustion of 2.78 mg of ethyl butyrate produces 6.32 mg of co2 and 2.58 mg of h2o. what is the empirical formula of the compound?

The empirical formula for the given compound is

Explanation:

The chemical equation for the combustion of hydrocarbon having carbon, hydrogen and oxygen follows:

where, 'x', 'y' and 'z' are the subscripts of Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen respectively.

We are given:

Conversion factor:  1 g = 1000 mg

Mass of

Mass of

Mass of compound = 2.78 mg = 0.00278 g

We know that:

Molar mass of carbon dioxide = 44 g/mol

Molar mass of water = 18 g/mol

In 44g of carbon dioxide, 12 g of carbon is contained.

So, in 0.00632 g of carbon dioxide, of carbon will be contained.

In 18g of water, 2 g of hydrogen is contained.

So, in 0.00258 g of water, of hydrogen will be contained.

To formulate the empirical formula, we need to follow some steps:

Moles of Carbon =

Moles of Hydrogen =

Moles of Oxygen =

For the mole ratio, we divide each value of the moles by the smallest number of moles calculated which is

For Carbon =

For Hydrogen  =

For Oxygen  =

The ratio of C : H : O = 3 : 6 : 1

Hence, the empirical formula for the given compound is

it have destructive character