A forensic scientist is given a white substance that is thought to be cocaine. The substance is found to have a percent composition: 49.48% C, 5.19% H, 28.85% N, and 16.48% O. What is the empirical f

The empirical formula for this substance can be determined by converting the percentage composition to moles and finding the smallest whole number ratio between the elements. Assuming a 100g sample, we have: - 49.48 g C (49.48/12.01 = 4.12 mol) - 5.19 g H (5.19/1.01 = 5.14 mol) - 28.85 g N (28.85/14.01 = 2.06 mol) - 16.48 g O (16.48/16.00 = 1.03 mol) Dividing each of these mole amounts by the smallest, we get a ratio of: C: 4.12/1.03 = 4 H: 5.14/1.03 = 5 N: 2.06/1.03 = 2 O: 1.03/1.03 = 1 Therefore, the empirical formula for this substance is C4H5N2O. As for whether it is cocaine, the empirical formula for cocaine is C17H21NO4. While the empirical formula of the given substance has the same elements as cocaine, the ratio between them is different. Therefore, the substance is not cocaine, but could be a related compound.