# 0.0833 moles of carbohydrate of empirical formula CH2O contain 1 g of hydrogen. Find its molecular formula.

Lupe Tanner, Ph.D. | Certified Educator

briefcaseCollege Professor

bookPh.D. from Oregon State University

calendarEducator since 2015

starTop subjects are Science, Math, and Business

Molecular formula is a multiple of empirical formula. That is, in the given case, if the empirical formula is CH2O, the molecular formula can be written as n(CH2O) or, CnH2nOn.

Using this molecular formula, we can see that each mole of this carbohydrate contains n moles of carbon, 2n moles of hydrogen and n moles of oxygen.

Given number of moles of carbohydrate = 0.0833 moles

number of moles of hydrogen in this given amount = 2n x 0.0833 moles.

It is given that 0.0833 moles of carbohydrate contains 1 g hydrogen. This means that 2n x 0.0833 moles of hydrogen contain 1 g of hydrogen.

Since, the molar mass of hydrogen is 1 g/mol,

2n x 0.0833 mol x 1 g/mol = 1 g

solving the equation, we get, n = 6.

Thus, the molecular formula of the carbohydrate is `C_6H_12O_6` , which is the molecular formula of glucose.