An organic monobasic acid was found to contain `39.5%` carbon, 6.4% hydrogen and the rest oxygen. If the equivalent mass of the acid is 60, find out its molecular formula.

Explanation

Percentage of oxygen = 100- (39.5 + 6.4) = 100- 45.9 = 54.1

`therefore` Empirical formula `=CH_(2)O`
Molecular mass = Eq. mass x basicity `=60 xx 1=60`
Empirical formula weight `=CH_(2)O =12+2 + 16=30`
Nows 30 n = 60 `rArr n=2`
`therefore` Molecular formula = (Empirical formula) x n `=(CH_(2)O_(5))_(2) = C_(2)H_(4)O_(2)`