3 A 60.00 g sample of tetraethyl lead, a gasoline additive, is found to contain 38.43 g lead, 17.83 g carbon, and 3.74 g hydrogen. Find its empirical formula.

The empirical formula is PbC₈H₂₀

Explanation:

To determine the empyrical formula, we need to determine the % of each element:

(38.43g  / 60 g ). 100 = 64.05 % of Lead

(17.83 g / 60 g) . 100 = 29.72 % of Carbon

(3.74 g / 60 g) . 100 = 6.23 % of H

Now we divide by the atomic mass:

64.05 / 207.2 = 0.309

29.72 / 12 = 2.48

6.23 / 1 = 6.23

We pick the lowest value and we divide again, with this number

0.309 / 0.309 = 1 Pb

2.48 / 0.309 = 8 C

6.23 / 0.309 = 20 H

PbC₈H₂₀