The compound known as butylated hydroxytoluene, abbreviated as BHT, contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. A 2.001 g sample of BHT was combusted in an oxygen rich environment to produce 5.995 g of CO 2(g) and 1.963 g of H2O(g) . Insert subscripts to complete the empirical formula of BHT.

C₁₅H₂₄O

Explanation:

Mass of BHT = 2.001 g

mass of carbon dioxide = 5.995

number of mole of CO₂ = 5.995 / 44.01 = 0.1362 mol

mass of water =1.963 g

number of mole of water = 1.963 / 18.02 = 0.109 mol

mass of carbon =   0.1362 mol × 12.0107 = 1.636 g

mass of hydrogen = 0.109 × 2 × 1.00784 = 0.22 g

mass of oxygen present = 2.001 - 1.636 - 0.22 = 0.145 g

number of mole of oxygen = 0.145 / 16 = 0.009

carbon : hydrogen : oxygen = 0.1362 : 0.218 : 0.009 = 15 : 24 : 1

the emperical formula = C₁₅H₂₄O