A compound contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen only. The percentage composition of the compound is shown in the table.
| Element | Percentage by mass |
|---|---|
| carbon | 54.5% |
| hydrogen | 9.1% |
| oxygen | 36.4% |
Relative atomic masses: C = 12, H = 1, O = 16
Use the percentage composition to determine the compound's empirical formula. Show each stage of your calculation.
142 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 2.6 Calculations involving masses, covering 2.6.1 Relative formula mass and percentage composition, 2.6.2 Empirical and molecular formulae, 2.6.3 Conservation of mass, 2.6.4 Reacting masses and concentration in g dm⁻³, 2.6.5 The mole and the Avogadro constant, and 2.6.6 Limiting reactants and stoichiometry. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.