Glycerol has a molar mass of 92.09g/mol. Its percent composition is: 39.12% C, 8.75% H, and 51.12% O. What is the molecular formula for glycerol?

Molecular formula => C₃H₈O₃

Explanation:

From the question given above, the following data were obtained:

Carbon (C) = 39.12%

Hydrogen (H) = 8.75%

Oxygen (O) = 51.12%

Molar mass of compound = 92.09 g/mol

Molecular formula =?

Next, we shall determine the empirical formula of the compound. This can be obtained as follow:

C = 39.12%

H = 8.75%

O = 51.12%

Divide by their molar mass

C = 39.12 / 12 = 3.26

H = 8.75 / 1 = 8.75

O = 51.12 / 16 = 3.195

Divide by the smallest

C = 3.26 / 3.195 = 1

H = 8.75 / 3.195 = 2.7

O = 3.195 / 3.195 = 1

Thus, the empirical formula is CH₂.₇O

Finally, we shall determine the molecular formula of the compound. This can be obtained as follow:

Empirical formula = CH₂.₇O

Molar mass of compound = 92.09 g/mol

Molecular formula =?

Molecular formula = Empirical formula × n

Molecular formula = [CH₂.₇O]ₙ

92.09 = [12 + (2.7×1) + 16] × n

92.09 = 30.7n

Divide both side by 30.7

n = 92.09 / 30.7

n = 3

Molecular formula = [CH₂.₇O]ₙ

Molecular formula = [CH₂.₇O]₃

Molecular formula = C₃H₈O₃

answers: to make sure that all of the broken pieces of tablet were added to the water, to allow for fair comparison of all three trials, with different particle sizes to avoid experimental error