When hydrocarbon A undergoes complete combustion it requires equivalents of and produces equivalents of water. Molecular formula of A is:

Question

When hydrocarbon A undergoes complete combustion it requires  equivalents of  and produces  equivalents of water. Molecular formula of A is:

Canvas Classes · Accepted Answer

Strategy:
 Use the general combustion formula for a hydrocarbon :
 
 Match the "equivalents" (moles) of Oxygen and Water provided to solve for  and .

Step 1: Determine Hydrogen count (y)
Commonly, produced water equivalents correspond to .

Step 2: Determine Carbon count (x)
Oxygen equivalents correspond to .

Step 3: Assemble the formula
The molecular formula is .

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