Question

Determine the molecular and empirical formulas of the following: (a) the organic solvent benzene, which has six carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms; (b) the compound silicon tetrachloride, which has a silicon atom and four chlorine atoms and is used in the manufacture of computer chips; (c) the reactive substance diborane, which has two boron atoms and six hydrogen atoms; (d) the sugar called glucose, which has six carbon atoms, twelve hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms.

Short answer

The molecular and empirical formulas for the given substances are as follows: (a) Benzene: Molecular Formula - C6H6; Empirical Formula - CH (b) Silicon tetrachloride: Molecular Formula - SiCl4; Empirical Formula - SiCl4 (c) Diborane: Molecular Formula - B2H6; Empirical Formula - BH3 (d) Glucose: Molecular Formula - C6H12O6; Empirical Formula - CH2O

Step-by-step solution

Write down the number of atoms for each element

For benzene, we're given that it has six carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms. Therefore, its molecular formula is C6H6.

Determine the empirical formula

Since the ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms is 6 : 6 (or 1:1 after simplification), the empirical formula for benzene is CH. Substance (b) - Silicon tetrachloride

Write down the number of atoms for each element

Silicon tetrachloride has one silicon atom and four chlorine atoms. Therefore, its molecular formula is SiCl4.

Determine the empirical formula

The ratio of silicon to chlorine atoms is 1:4, so the empirical formula for silicon tetrachloride is SiCl4. Substance (c) - Diborane

Write down the number of atoms for each element

Diborane has two boron atoms and six hydrogen atoms. Therefore, its molecular formula is B2H6.

Determine the empirical formula

The ratio of boron to hydrogen atoms is 2:6 or 1:3 after simplification, so the empirical formula for Diborane is BH3. Substance (d) - Glucose

Write down the number of atoms for each element

Glucose has 6 carbon atoms, 12 hydrogen atoms, and 6 oxygen atoms. Thus, its molecular formula is C6H12O6.

Determine the empirical formula

The ratio of carbon to hydrogen to oxygen atoms is 6:12:6 or 1:2:1 after simplification. The empirical formula for glucose is CH2O.