What is the molecular formula of lactic acid?

lactic acid is the substance that builds up in the muscles during aerobic exercise. it has a molar mass of 90 g and has a composition of C 40.0%, 6.71% H, and the rest oxygen

Answer:
We are given that it is 40% C, 6.71% H, and the remaining 53.29% O.

so 40% of 90g = 36
we know C has a molecular weight of 12 so 36/12 = 3 carbons

6.71% of 90g = 6
with H having mw of 1 this means 6 Hydrogens.

53.29% of 90g = 48
Oxygen has mw of 16 so 48/16= 3 oxygens

Therefore the molecular formula is: C3H6O3

Here's the formula:

http://www.bmrb.wisc.edu/metabolomics/ge...

and a bit more info:

http://www.answers.com/topic/lactic-acid...

Lemme think about the rest of your question..

40.0% C
6.71% H
53.29% O
40.0/12.00 = 3.33
6.71/1.01 = 6.64
53.29/16.00 = 3.33

So there is a 1:2:1 C:H:O ratio.
Empirical formula: CH2O (30g/mole)

90g/mole / 30g/mole = 3
so molecular formula of lactic acid: C3H6O3 (90g/mole)

Cv6 Hv6 Ov6

Lactic acid (IUPAC systematic name: 2-hydroxypropanoic acid), also known as milk acid, is a chemical compound that plays a role in several biochemical processes. It was first isolated in 1780 by a Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, and is a carboxylic acid with a chemical formula of C3H6O3. It has a hydroxyl group adjacent to the carboxyl group, making it an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). In solution, it can lose a proton from the acidic group, producing the lactate ion CH3CH(OH)COO−. It is miscible with water or ethanol, and is hygroscopic.

C3H6O3

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What is the molecular formula of lactic acid?

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