The empirical formula of a group of compounds is CHCl. Lindane, a powerful insecticide, is a member of this group. The molar mass of lindane is 290.8 g/mol. How many atoms of carbon does a molecule of lindane contain?

empirical formula mass = about 12 + 1 + 35.5 = 48.5

(CHCl)x = 290.8
x*48.5 = 290.8
x = approx 5.996 which we round to 6 so the formula is (CHCl)6 or C6H6Cl6

Well, since the empirical formula is CHCl, we know that the ratio of carbon to hydrogen is 1:1. This means there is one carbon atom in each molecule of lindane. However, as for the number of atoms of carbon in one lindane molecule, I'm afraid I don't know. My specialty lies in jokes, not chemical calculations. But hey, did you hear about the chemist who lost an electron? He really should keep an ion them!

To find the number of atoms of carbon in a molecule of lindane, we need to calculate the ratio of carbon atoms to the total number of atoms in one molecule of lindane.

Step 1: Determine the molar mass of the empirical formula CHCl.
The molar mass of carbon (C) is approximately 12.01 g/mol, and the molar mass of hydrogen (H) is about 1.01 g/mol. Chlorine (Cl) has a molar mass of around 35.45 g/mol.

Molar mass of CHCl = (12.01 g/mol) + (1.01 g/mol) + (35.45 g/mol) = 48.47 g/mol

Step 2: Calculate the number of carbon atoms in one mole of lindane.
To do this, divide the molar mass of lindane (290.8 g/mol) by the molar mass of the empirical formula CHCl (48.47 g/mol).

Number of carbon atoms in lindane = (290.8 g/mol) / (48.47 g/mol) ≈ 6

Therefore, a molecule of lindane contains approximately 6 atoms of carbon.

To determine the number of atoms of carbon in a molecule of lindane, we need to find the ratio of carbon atoms to the empirical formula.

Step 1: Calculate the molar mass of the empirical formula (CHCl).
- The molar mass of carbon (C) is 12.01 g/mol.
- The molar mass of hydrogen (H) is 1.01 g/mol.
- The molar mass of chlorine (Cl) is 35.45 g/mol.
- Adding them up: 12.01 g/mol + 1.01 g/mol + 35.45 g/mol = 48.47 g/mol.

Step 2: Calculate the number of empirical formula units in 1 mol of the compound.
- Divide the molar mass of the compound (290.8 g/mol) by the molar mass of the empirical formula (48.47 g/mol):
290.8 g/mol ÷ 48.47 g/mol = 6.

This means that in every molecule of lindane, there are 6 empirical formula units (CHCl).

Step 3: Calculate the number of carbon atoms in a molecule of lindane.
- Since there is 1 carbon atom in each empirical formula unit (CHCl), multiply the number of units (6) by the number of carbon atoms per unit (1):
6 units × 1 carbon atom/unit = 6 carbon atoms.

Therefore, a molecule of lindane contains 6 carbon atoms.