The most common form of nylon is 63.68% carbon, 9.80% hydrogen, 12.38% nitrogen and 14.14 % oxygen. Calculate the empirical formula for nylon.

The empirical formule is C6H11NO

Explanation:

Step 1: Data given

Suppose the mass = 100 grams

Nylon contains:

63.68 % carbon = 63.68 grams

9.80 % hydrogen = 9.80 grams

12.38 % nitrogen = 12.38 grams

14.14 % oxygen = 14.14 grams  

Molar mass C = 12.01 g/mol

Molar mass H = 1.01 g/mol

Molar mass nitrogen = 14.01 g/mol

Molar mass oxygen = 16.00 g/mol

Step 2: Calculate moles

Moles = mass / moles

Moles C = 63.68 grams / 12.01 g/mol

Moles C = 5.302 moles

Moles H = 9.80 grams / 1.01 g/mol

Moles H = 9.70 moles

Moles N = 12.38 grams / 14.01 g/mol

Moles N = 0.8837 moles

Moles O = 14.14 grams / 16.00 g/mol

Moles O = 0.8838 moles

Step 3: Calculate mol ratio

We divide by the smalleste amount of moles

C: 5.302/0.8837 = 6

H: 9.70/0.8837 = 11

N: 0.8837/0.8837 = 1

O: 0.8838/0.8837 = 1

The empirical formule is C6H11NO