A liquid compound containing only hydrogen and oxygen is placed in a flask. Two electrodes are dipped into the liquid and an electric current is passed between them. Gaseous hydrogen forms at one electrode and gaseous oxygen at the other. After a time, 14.4 mL hydrogen has evolved at the negative terminal, and 14.4 mL oxygen has evolved at the positive terminal. (a) Assign a chemical formula to the compound in the cell. (b) Explain why more than one formula is possible as the answer to part (a).

Question

Aylin Case

Chemistry

13 June, 13:08

A liquid compound containing only hydrogen and oxygen is placed in a flask. Two electrodes are dipped into the liquid and an electric current is passed between them. Gaseous hydrogen forms at one electrode and gaseous oxygen at the other. After a time, 14.4 mL hydrogen has evolved at the negative terminal, and 14.4 mL oxygen has evolved at the positive terminal. (a) Assign a chemical formula to the compound in the cell. (b) Explain why more than one formula is possible as the answer to part (a).

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Answers (1)

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Pablo Kim · Answer 1

OH

Explanation:

The chemical can be assigned the formula OH since it yielded the same volume of hydrogen and oxygen

b) different formula is possible for example consider the two equations below:

2OH → H₂ (g) + O₂ (g) and

H₂O₂ → H₂ + O₂

the proportion of hydrogen is the same for both equation, the coefficient can be any number provided it yielded the same proportion.