An organic acid is composed of carbon (68.84%), hydrogen (4.96%), and oxygen (26.20%). Its molar mass is 122.12 g/mol. Determine the molecular formula of the compound.

The molecular formula of the compound is .

Explanation:

Let consider that given percentages are mass percentages, so that mass of each element are determined by multiplying molar massof the organic acid by respective proportion. That is:

Carbon

Hydrogen

Oxygen

Now, the number of moles (), measured in moles, of each element are calculated by the following expression:

Where:

- Mass of the element, measured in grams.

- Molar mass of the element, measured in grams per mol.

Carbon (, )

Hydrogen (, )

Oxygen (, )

For each mole of organic acid, there are 7 moles of carbon, 6 moles of hydrogen and 2 moles of oxygen. Hence, the molecular formula of the compound is:

output?

explanation: