Epinephrine (adrenaline) is 59.0% carbon, 7.1% hydrogen, 26.2% oxygen, and 7.7% nitrogen by mass. what is the empirical formula of epinephrine if its molar mass is 180 g/mol?

empirical formula is the simplest ratio of whole numbers of components making up a compound

the percentage composition of each element has been given so we are going to find the mass for 100 g of the compound

mass C - 59.0 g

H - 7.1 g

O - 26.2 g

N - 7.7g

number of moles

C - 59.0 g/ 12 g/mol

H - 7.1 g/ 1 g/mol

O - 26.2 g/ 16 g/mol

N - 7.7 g / 14 g/mol

C = 4.9 mol H= 7.1 mol O= 1.6 mol N =0.55 mol

divide by the least number of moles

C - 4.9 / 0.55 = 8.9

H - 7.1 / 0.55 = 12.9

O -1.6 / 0.55 = 2.9

N - 0.55/ 0.55 = 1.0

the number of atoms of each element rounded off

C - 9

H - 13

O - 29

N - 1

the empirical formula is - C₉H₁₃O₃N