[red1312]

The compound that gives vinegar its sour taste is acetic, which contains the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, when 5 g of acetic acid are burned in air, 7.33 g of CO2 and 3 g water are obtained. What is the simplest formula of acetic acid ?


I know the solution but I didn't understand can anyone explain me ?

[Borek]

How many moles of carbon in 7.33 g of CO₂? How many moles of hydrogen in 3 g of water? What is their ratio?

[red1312]

carbon 2 mol  hydrogen 0.333 mol

ratio I don't know unless we find the oxygen mol but how ?

[Borek]

carbon 2 mol  hydrogen 0.333 mol

Something is wrong with these numbers, show how you got them. 2 moles of C means 2 mol*12 g/mol = 24 g, you can't have 24 g of carbon in 7.33 g of CO₂.

ratio I don't know

You can calculate C:H ratio even without oxygen.

unless we find the oxygen mol but how ?

Once you know (correct) amounts of carbon and hydrogen, calculate their masses and sum them. Compare to the mass original sample. Why the difference?