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On complete combustion of a hydrocarbon gas X, 1.32g of carbon (IV) oxide and 0.54g of water were produced. Calculate the empirical formula of X (C = 12.0, H = 1, O = 16.0)

Answer Text:
1 mole of #CO_2# weighs 44g
44g of #CO_2# contains 12g of c
∴ 1.32 of #CO_2# will contain #12/44 times1.32#
= 0.36g of C
1 mole of #H_2 O# weighs 18g
18g of #H_2O# weigh 2g of H
0.54g of #H_2O# will contain #2 times0.54/18 = 0.06# of H

Element C H
Mass 0.36 0.06
Moles #0.36/12# #0.06/1#

1: 2
Empirical form = #CH_2#