A 1.0857 gram pure sample of a compound containing only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen was burned in excess oxygen gas. 3.190 g of carbon dioxide and 0.930g of water were produced. Find the empirical formula of the compound.

answer: the enthalpy of the overall chemical reaction is +87.88 kj or +88 kj.

according to hess's law, the overall enthalpy of a reaction is the difference between the sum of enthalpy values of all the products and the sum of enthalpy values of all the reactants.

δh(reaction) = ∑nδh(products) - ∑nδh(reactants)

δh(reaction) = [δh +δh] - [δh]

δh(reaction) = [1(-287.02) + 1(0) ] - [1(-374.9)] kj = +87.88 kj

here, δh (pcl3) = -287.02 kj, δh(cl2) = 0, δh(pcl5) = -374.9 kj

therefore, enthalpy of the overall reaction is +87.88 kj or +88 kj.

c. heat could easily travel through the molecules in the air and escape/enter the flask. removing the air slows down the heat transfer.  

the answer is 75.0%.