Question

Alpha-linolenic acid is one of a large group of fatty acids that are found in fish oil, walnuts and canola seeds. These nutrients are essential for good health. All of these fatty acids consist of an unsaturated hydrocarbon that is terminated by a carboxylic acid functional group. When a 16.22142 g sample of unknown fatty acid is burned in oxygen, the process consumes 40.32 g of O2. The reaction produces 43.5699 g of CO2 and 12.97152 g of H2O. Based on these results and the molar masses of H (1.008 g), C (12.01 g) and O (16.00 g), how many hydrogen atoms are in each formula unit of the acid, CxHyO2? (What is the value of y?)