# Problem: Determine the empirical formulas of the compounds with the following compositions by mass.62.1% C, 5.21% H, 12.1% N, and the remainder O

###### FREE Expert Solution

Step 1: 62.1% C, 5.21% H, 12.1% N, and the remainder O by mass. Recall that mass percent is given by:

$\mathbf{100}\mathbf{%}\mathbf{=}\mathbf{%}\mathbf{C}\mathbf{+}\mathbf{%}\mathbf{H}\mathbf{+}\mathbf{%}\mathbf{N}\mathbf{+}\mathbf{%}\mathbf{O}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathbf{100}\mathbf{%}\mathbf{=}\mathbf{62}\mathbf{.}\mathbf{1}\mathbf{%}\mathbf{+}\mathbf{5}\mathbf{.}\mathbf{21}\mathbf{%}\mathbf{+}\mathbf{12}\mathbf{.}\mathbf{1}\mathbf{%}\mathbf{+}\mathbf{%}\mathbf{O}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathbf{%}\mathbf{O}\mathbf{=}\mathbf{100}\mathbf{%}\mathbf{-}\left(62.1%+5.21%+12.1%\right)\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathbf{%}\mathbf{O}\mathbf{=}\mathbf{100}\mathbf{%}\mathbf{-}\mathbf{79}\mathbf{.}\mathbf{41}\mathbf{%}$

% O = 20.59%

Assuming we have 100 g of the compound, this means we have 62.1 g C, 5.21 g H, 12.1 g N, and 20.59 g O.

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###### Problem Details

Determine the empirical formulas of the compounds with the following compositions by mass.

62.1% C, 5.21% H, 12.1% N, and the remainder O