Tartaric acid is the white, powdery substance that coats sour candies such as Sour Patch Kids. Combustion analysis of a 12.01-gg sample of tartaric acid, which contains only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, produced 14.08 gg CO2CO2 and 4.32 gg H2OH2O. Part A Find the empirical formula for tartaric acid. Express your answer as a chemical formula. Enter the elements in the order C, H, and

In combustion analysis all Carbon reacts producing CO2 and all hydrogen reacts producing H2O. With the differences in masses we can find the mass of oxygen and their moles:

Moles CO2 = Moles C:

14.08g * (1mol/44.01g) = 0.3199 moles C * (12.01g/mol) = 3.8423g C

Moles H2O:

4.32g H2O * (1mol/18.01g) = 0.2399 moles H2O * (2mol H / 1molH2O) = 0.4797moles H = 0.4797g H

Mass O:

12.01g = Mass O + 3.8423g C + 0.4797g H

Mass O = 7.688g O

Moles O:

7.688g O * (1mol/16g) = 0.48 moles O

The ratio of atoms (Dividing in the moles of C that are the lower number of moles):

O: 0.48moles O / 0.3199 moles C = 1.50

C: 0.3199 moles C / 0.3199 moles C = 1

H: 0.4797 moles H / 0.3199 moles C = 1.50

As empirical formula requires whole numbers:

O: 1.50* 2 = 3

C: 1*2 = 2

H: 1.50*2 = 3

The empirical formula is: