[gigaimpact1]

I had a question on a test that I was stumped on.

The question is:

A hydrocarbon is burned, creating CO₂ and H₂O.
The mass of carbon dioxide, in grams, is 3.26 times greater than the mass of water.
The molar mass of this hydrocarbon is between 50-60 g/mol.

1. What is the mass (g) of carbon in the compound?
2. What is the mass (g) of hydrogen in the compound?
3. What is the amount of moles of carbon?
4. What is the amount of moles of hydrogen?
5. What is the empirical formula?
6. What is the molecular formula?

My attempt:
I tried different ways to do it, but I don't know if they are right. They are probably wrong.
1. Knowing that the hydrocarbon's molar mass is between 50-60 g/mol, I used a guess and check method to see which possible formulas there were. I tried C₄H₁₂, as that adds up to 60 g/mol. From there I had no idea what to do.
2. I used the molar masses of H₂O and tried multiplying by 3.26, however I stopped there because I also had no idea what to do
3. I tried using algebra , but I got confused:
let x =H₂0
(3.26x)*12/44 for the C in CO₂
For the H₂O, I did 2x/18
Afterwards I also had no idea what to do



There were other attempts at this but my sheet is too messy and I can't read the scribbles


If you could explain it as well without giving just the answer that'd be great
Thanks

[AWK]

Read forum rules and show your attempt.

[Borek]

Small hint: can you tell what is mass ratio of carbon to hydrogen from the information about mass ratio of CO₂ and H₂O?

[gigaimpact1]

Small hint: can you tell what is mass ratio of carbon to hydrogen from the information about mass ratio of CO₂ and H₂O?

So, if CO₂ is 3.26 times greater than H₂), then would the mass ratio of carbon to hydrogen also be  1 : 3.26?

[AWK]

C₄H₁₂ is an impossible formula. Alkanes have general formula C_nH_2n+2.

[gigaimpact1]

C₄H₁₂ is an impossible formula. Alkanes have general formula C_nH_2n+2.

Sorry, I didn't know that beforehand.

So it would be C₂H₆ then?

[AWK]

Hint for your trial. Take 1 mole of water and calculate how much moles of carbon is equivalent to 2 moles of hydrogen atoms. And all should be clear.

[gigaimpact1]

1 mole H₂O.
? moles of C = 2 moles of H
There would be 2 moles of C?
I'm not sure what to do next

[AWK]

Calculate corresponding mass of carbon dioxide , convert to moles of CO₂ then moles of C

[gigaimpact1]

So since there are 2 moles of carbon the mass of CO₂ would be 12+12+16+16+16+16=88?
Moles of CO₂= 1 C, 2 O
There is 1 mole of C??
And here is where I am confused.

Sorry I don't understand what is going on I think I'm doing this wrong

[AWK]

18 g of water. How many grams of CO2?

[gigaimpact1]

12+16+16, so 44

[AWK]

The mass of carbon dioxide, in grams, is 3.26 times greater than the mass of water.

[gigaimpact1]

Oh! So CO₂ would be 18*3.26 = 58.68

But what now?

[AWK]

How many moles of CO2 , the carbon atoms