Two compounds have the same empirical formula. One substance is a gas, whereas the other is a viscous liquid. How is it possible for two substances with the same empirical formula to have markedly different properties?

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Hubert KochLv2

26 May 2020

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Two compounds have the same composition: 85.62%C and 14.38%H

a. Obtain the empirical formula corresponding to this composition

b. One of the compounds has a molecular weight of 28.3 amu; the other 56.06 amu. Obtain the molecular formulas of both compounds.

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Determine the empirical and molecular formulas of each of the following substances:

(a) Styrene, a compound substance used to make Styrofoam^® cups and insulation, contains 92.3% C and 7.7% H by mass and has a molar mass of 104 g/mol.

(b) Caffeine, a stimulant found in coffee, contains 49.5% C, 5.15% H, 28.9% N, and 16.5% O by mass and has a molar mass of 195 g/mol.

(c) Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer in certain foods, contains 35.51% C, 4.77% H, 37.85% O, 8.29% N, and 13.60% Na, and has a molar mass of 169 g/mol.

Empirical formula of this compound is CH.

To determine the molecular formula, we need to find out how many times is molar mass higher than the mass of empirical formula:

Molecular formula is C₈H₈.

b) Empirical formula of caffeine:

Empirical formula of caffeine is C₄H₅N₂O. The sum of atomic masses from empirical formula is 97 g/mol.

Molecular formula of caffeine is 2 × empirical formula = C₈H₁₀N₄O₂

c) Empirical formula of MSG:

Empirical formula of MSG is C₅H₈NO₄Na. The sum of atomic masses of empirical formula is 169 g/mol, the same as molar mass. Empirical and molecular formula are identical.

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Ethylene glycol (HOCH₂CH₂OH) is the major component of antifreeze. It is a slightly viscous liquid, not very volatile at room temperature, with a boiling point of 198 °C. Pentane (C₅H₁₂), which has about the same molecular weight, is a nonviscous liquid that is highly volatile at room temperature and whose boiling point is 36.1 °C. Explain the differences in the physical properties of the two substances.