How many moles of oxygen are in a sample of methyl tert-butyl ether if there are 67 moles of hydrogen in the sample?
To determine the number of moles of oxygen in methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), we need to consider the molecular formula and the molar ratios of the elements. The molecular formula of MTBE is CH3OC(CH3)3. From the formula, we can see that for each molecule of MTBE, there is one oxygen atom.
Given that there are 67 moles of hydrogen in the sample, we know that the mole ratio of hydrogen to oxygen is 3:1 according to the formula. So, for every 3 moles of hydrogen, there must be 1 mole of oxygen. Therefore, the number of moles of oxygen in the sample is 67 moles / 3 = 22.33 moles. Rounding to 2 significant digits, the number of moles of oxygen in the sample of methyl tert-butyl ether is 22.33 moles.
Molecular Formula of MTBE
The molecular formula of a compound provides information about the types and the number of atoms present in a single molecule. In the case of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), the chemical formula is CH3OC(CH3)3. This formula indicates that each molecule of MTBE contains one oxygen atom.
Molar Ratios of Elements
Molar ratios are used to determine the relationship between different elements in a compound based on their molecular formula. In this case, the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen in MTBE is 3:1. This means that for every 3 moles of hydrogen, there is 1 mole of oxygen present.
Calculation of Moles of Oxygen
Given that there are 67 moles of hydrogen in the sample of MTBE, we can use the mole ratio of 3:1 to calculate the number of moles of oxygen. By dividing the number of moles of hydrogen by 3, we find that there are 22.33 moles of oxygen in the sample.
Therefore, based on the molecular formula and molar ratios, the sample of methyl tert-butyl ether contains approximately 22.33 moles of oxygen.