Question

On ozonolysis of a hydrocarbon two equivalents of formaldehyde and one equivalent of

Short answer

The molecular formula of the hydrocarbon is \(C_4H_8\).

Step-by-step solution

Identify the products after ozonolysis and write their molecular formulas

Formaldehyde and acetic acid are the two products given after the ozonolysis of the hydrocarbon. Write their molecular formulas: Formaldehyde (HCHO), Acetic acid (CH3COOH)

Determine the stoichiometry of the ozonolysis reaction

According to the provided information, the ozonolysis reaction involves two equivalents of formaldehyde and one equivalent of acetic acid: 2 HCHO + 1 CH3COOH

Calculate the total number of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in the products

Calculate the total number of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) atoms for the products: For two equivalents of formaldehyde (2 HCHO): \(2 \times (1\textrm{C} + 2\textrm{H} + 1\textrm{O})\) = 2C + 4H + 2O For one equivalent of acetic acid (1 CH3COOH): \(1 \times (2\textrm{C} + 4\textrm{H} + 2\textrm{O})\) = 2C + 4H + 2O

Calculate the total number of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in the hydrocarbon

Combine the total number of atoms calculated in Step 3 to find the combined formula of the hydrocarbon: Total atoms in the hydrocarbon: (2C + 4H + 2O) + (2C + 4H + 2O) = 4C + 8H + 4O

Identify the molecular formula of the hydrocarbon based on the combined formula

Since hydrocarbons contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms, we must remove the oxygen atoms to obtain the molecular formula of the hydrocarbon: Subtract the oxygen atoms: (4C + 8H + 4O) - 4O = 4C + 8H Therefore, the molecular formula of the hydrocarbon is C4H8.

Key concepts

Hydrocarbon

A hydrocarbon is a compound composed entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms. These molecules form the backbone of many organic compounds and are essential components in fuels and various chemicals.
Hydrocarbons can be found in different structures such as chains, rings, and even further complex configurations.
They are classified into several categories based on their saturation levels:

• Saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes) contain only single bonds between carbon atoms.
• Unsaturated hydrocarbons have one or more double (alkenes) or triple bonds (alkynes).

In the context of ozonolysis, the hydrocarbon in question is often an alkene, which reacts with ozone to form distinct products.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a simple organic compound with the molecular formula HCHO. It is a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent odor, extensively used in different industrial applications like resins and preservatives.
When a hydrocarbon undergoes ozonolysis, formaldehyde can be one of the resulting fragments, indicating the presence of terminal carbons in the original hydrocarbon structure.
The formation of formaldehyde provides insights into the breaking of C=C double bonds and helps deduce the structural specifics of the unsaturated hydrocarbon.

Acetic Acid

Acetic acid is known by its chemical formula CH₃COOH and is a vital component of vinegar, responsible for its sour taste and smell.
During ozonolysis, the generation of acetic acid from a hydrocarbon suggests that the original molecule had particular arrangements of carbon atoms leading to specific cleavage.
This process helps not just in understanding the structure but also serves practical purposes in organic synthesis by providing key functional groups.

Molecular Formula

The molecular formula represents the number and type of atoms present in a molecule, distinguishing it from a structural formula which indicates how the atoms are bonded.
In this exercise, determining the molecular formula of a hydrocarbon (C₄H₈) involved conducting calculations based on the products of its ozonolysis reaction.
Combining knowledge of known products (formaldehyde and acetic acid) allows one to deduce the necessary total atom counts and infer the correct molecular formula of the starting hydrocarbon.

Reaction Stoichiometry

Reaction stoichiometry involves balancing chemical reactions to reflect the conservation of mass and the ratios of reactants and products.
For ozonolysis, we learned that the given stoichiometry per hydrocarbon results in specific products - two formaldehyde molecules and one acetic acid.
This illustrates how stoichiometry facilitates predicting the nature and quantities of products derived from a known reactant and vice versa.
Accurate stoichiometric calculations are vital for both theoretical analyses and practical applications in chemical synthesis, ensuring efficient reactant use and desired product yields.