Question

If a compound on analysis was found to contain C = 18.5%, H = 1.55%, Cl = 55.04% and O = 24.81%, then its empirical formula is ______.

Options

• CHClO

• CH₂ClO

• C₂H₂OCl

• ClCH₂O

Answer 1

If a compound on analysis was found to contain C = 18.5%, H = 1.55%, Cl = 55.04% and O = 24.81%, then its empirical formula is CHClO.

Explanation:

Element	%	Atomic weight amount	Relative number	Simple ratio
C	18.5%	12	`18.5/12 = 1.54`	1
H	1.55%	1	`1.55/1` = 1.55	1
O	24.81%	6	`24.81/16` = 1.55	1
Cl	55.04%	35.5	`55.04/35.5` = 1.55	1

∴ Empirical formula = CHClO