A compound contains 64.3% carbon, 7.14% Hydrogen, and 28.6% Oxygen. What is the empirical formula for this substance? Оа
C₂H₂O
Oь
C9H₂O2
Ос
C₂H₂O
Od
CHO

Empirical formula is C₃H₄O

Explanation:

Empirical formula:

It is the simplest formula gives the ratio of atoms of different elements in small whole number .

Given data:

Percentage of hydrogen = 7.14%

Percentage of carbon = 64.3%

Percentage of oxygen = 28.6%

Empirical formula = ?

Solution:

Number of gram atoms of H = 7.14 / 1.01 = 7.1

Number of gram atoms of O = 28.6 / 16 = 1.8

Number of gram atoms of C = 64.3 / 12 = 5.4

Atomic ratio:

            C                  :         H            :         O

         5.4/1.8             :      7.1/1.8       :       1.8/1.8

            3                   :        4            :        1

C : H : O = 3 : 4 : 1

Empirical formula is C₃H₄O.

the answer is b because, investigating whether another species of moth also drinks tears might be interesting, but it would not directly explain why this species of moth does.

to explain why this species of moth drinks tears, the scientist could ask: "what nutrients that moths need are in elephant tears? "

the scientist could experiment with moth repellent or oter ways to keep the moths away, but that would not answer his original question.