Answer: The empirical formula for the given compound is [tex]CCl_{2}[/tex]
Explanation:
The chemical equation for the combustion of compound having carbon and chlorine follows:
[tex]C_xCl_y+O_2\rightarrow CO_2+Cl_2[/tex]
where, 'x' and 'y' are the subscripts of carbon and chlorine respectively.
We are given:
Mass of [tex]CO_2=1.37g[/tex]
We know that:
Molar mass of carbon dioxide = 44 g/mol
In 44g of carbon dioxide, 12 g of carbon is contained.
So, in 1.37 g of carbon dioxide, [tex]\frac{12}{44}\times 1.37=0.374g[/tex] of carbon will be contained.
To formulate the empirical formula, we need to follow some steps:
Moles of Carbon =[tex]\frac{\text{Given mass of Carbon}}{\text{Molar mass of Carbon}}=\frac{0.374g}{12g/mole}=0.031moles[/tex]
Moles of Chlorine = [tex]\frac{\text{Given mass of Chlorine}}{\text{Molar mass of Chlorine}}=\frac{2.206g}{35.45g/mole}=0.062moles[/tex]
For the mole ratio, we divide each value of the moles by the smallest number of moles calculated which is 0.031 moles.
For Carbon = [tex]\frac{0.031}{0.031}=1[/tex]
For Chlorine = [tex]\frac{0.062}{0.031}=2[/tex]
The ratio of C : Cl = 1 : 2
Hence, the empirical formula for the given compound is [tex]C_1Cl_2=CCl_2[/tex]