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Combustion Analysis
Obtaining Empirical and Molecular Formulas from Combustion Data
Empirical and molecular formulas for compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen (C H ) or carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen (C H O ) can be determined with a process called combustion analysis. The steps for this procedure are
Weigh a sample of the compound to be analyzed and place it in the apparatus shown in the image below.
Burn the compound completely. The only products of the combustion of a compound that contains only carbon and
hydrogen (C H ) or carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (C H O ) are carbon dioxide and water.
The H O and CO are drawn through two tubes. One tube contains a substance that absorbs water, and the other contains
a substance that absorbs carbon dioxide. Weigh each of these tubes before and after the combustion. The increase in
mass in the first tube is the mass of H O that formed in the combustion, and the increase in mass for the second tube is
the mass of CO formed.
Assume that all the carbon in the compound has been converted to CO and trapped in the second tube. Calculate the
mass of carbon in the compound from the mass of carbon in the measured mass of CO formed.
Assume that all of the hydrogen in the compound has been converted to H O and trapped in the first tube. Calculate the
mass of hydrogen in the compound from the mass of hydrogen in the measured mass of water.
If the compound contains oxygen as well as carbon and hydrogen, calculate the mass of the oxygen by subtracting the
mass of carbon and hydrogen from the total mass of the original sample of compound.
Use this data to determine the empirical and molecular formulas in the usual way.

Apparatus for Combustion Analysis A compound containing carbon and hydrogen (C H ) or carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen (C H O ) is burned completely to form H O and CO . The products are drawn through two tubes. The first tube
absorbs water, and the second tube absorbs carbon dioxide.

To illustrate how empirical and molecular formulas can be determined from data derived from combustion analysis, lets
consider a substance called trioxane. Formaldehyde, CH O, is unstable as a pure gas, readily forming a mixture of a
substance called trioxane and a polymer called paraformaldehyde. That is why formaldehyde is dissolved in a solvent, such
a b
a b c
a b a b c
2 2
2
2
2
2
2
a b
a b c 2 2
2
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as water, before it is sold and used. The molecular formula of trioxane, which contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, can be
determined using the data from two different experiments. In the first experiment, 17.471 g of trioxane is burned in the
apparatus shown above, and 10.477 g H O and 25.612 g CO are formed. In the second experiment, the molecular mass of
trioxane is found to be 90.079.
We can get the molecular formula of a compound from its empirical formula and its molecular mass. (See the text for a
reminder of how this is done.) To get the empirical formula, we need to determine the mass in grams of the carbon, hydrogen,
and oxygen in 17.471 g of trioxane. Thus we need to perform these general steps.
First, convert from the data given to grams of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Second, determine the empirical formula from the grams of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Third, determine the molecular formula from the empirical formula and the given molecular mass.
Because we assume that all the carbon in trioxane has reacted to form in CO , we can find the mass of carbon in 17.471 g
trioxane by calculating the mass of carbon in 25.612 g CO .
Because we assume that all of the hydrogen in trioxane has reacted to form H O, we can find the mass of hydrogen in 17.471
g trioxane by calculating the mass of hydrogen in 10.477 g H O.
Because trioxane contains only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, we can calculate the mass of oxygen by subtracting the
masses of carbon and hydrogen from the total mass of trioxane.
? g O = 17.471 g trioxane - 6.9899 g C - 1.1724 g H = 9.309 g O
We now calculate the empirical formula, the empirical formula mass, and the molecular formula.

Sample Study Sheet: Calculating Molecular Formulas from Combustion Data
Tip-off You want to calculate the molecular formula of a compound containing only carbon and hydrogen (C H ) or carbon,
hydrogen, and oxygen (C H O ), and you are given its molecular mass and the masses of CO and H O formed in the
combustion of a given mass of the compound.
General Procedure
Calculate the number of grams of carbon in the compound by calculating the number of grams of carbon in the given amount
of CO .
Calculate the number of grams of hydrogen in the compound by calculating the number of grams of hydrogen in the given
amount of H O.
If the compound contains oxygen, calculate the number of grams of oxygen in it by subtracting the masses of carbon and
hydrogen from the given total mass of compound.
? g O = (given) g total - (calculated) g C - (calculated) g H
2 2
2
2
2
2
a b
a b c 2 2
2
2
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Calculate the empirical formula of the compound from the grams of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Calculate the formula mass for the empirical formula and divide the given molecular mass by the empirical formula mass to
get n.
Multiply each of the subscripts in the empirical formula by n to get the molecular formula.

EXAMPLE Obtaining a Molecular Formula from Combustion Data:
Dianabol is one of the anabolic steroids that has been used by some athletes to increase the size and strength of their
muscles. It is similar to the male hormone testosterone. Some studies indicate that the desired effects of the drug are
minimal, and the side effects, which include sterility and increased risk of liver cancer and heart disease, keep most people
from using it. The molecular formula of Dianabol, which consists of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, can be determined using
the data from two different experiments. In the first experiment, 14.765 g of Dianabol is burned, and 43.257 g CO2 and
12.395 g H2O are formed. In the second experiment, the molecular mass of Dianabol is found to be 300.44. What is the
molecular formula for Dianabol?
Solution: