a sample of hydrocarbon of mass 51.2g was analysed and found to contain 12.8 grams of hydrogen. If the formula of hydrocarbon is CxHy. Find the values of x and y

Answer 1

To find the values of x and y in the formula CxHy, we need to calculate the number of moles of carbon and hydrogen in the given hydrocarbon sample.

First, let's calculate the number of moles of hydrogen:
Number of moles of hydrogen = mass of hydrogen / molar mass of hydrogen
The molar mass of hydrogen is approximately 1 g/mol.
Number of moles of hydrogen = 12.8 g / 1 g/mol = 12.8 moles

Now, let's calculate the number of moles of carbon:
Number of moles of carbon = total mass of hydrocarbon - mass of hydrogen
Total mass of hydrocarbon = 51.2 g
Number of moles of carbon = 51.2 g - 12.8 g = 38.4 g

Since the molar mass of carbon is approximately 12 g/mol, we can calculate the number of moles of carbon:
Number of moles of carbon = 38.4 g / 12 g/mol = 3.2 moles

Finally, to find the values of x and y in the formula CxHy, we can divide the number of moles of carbon and hydrogen by the smallest value between them, which is 3.2:
x = 3.2 / 3.2 = 1
y = 12.8 / 3.2 = 4

Therefore, the values of x and y in the formula CxHy are x = 1 and y = 4.