Alkanes combine with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water according to
the following scheme:
$$
\mathrm{C}_{n} \mathrm{H}_{2 n+2}+(3 n+1) / 2 \mathrm{O}_{2} \rightarrow(n+1)
\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}+n \mathrm{CO}_{2}
$$
This process is generally referred to as combustion. An important use of this
reaction is the quantitative determination of elemental composition (elemental
analysis). Typically, a small sample of the compound is completely burned, and
the water and carbon dioxide produced are collected and weighed. From the
weight of water, the amount of hydrogen in the original compound can be
determined. Similarly, the amount of carbon dioxide formed allows us to
determine the amount of carbon in the original compound. Oxygen, if present,
is usually determined by difference. The determination of the relative molar
proportions of carbon and hydrogen in a compound is the first step in deriving
its molecular formula.
If combustion of \(5.00 \mathrm{mg}\) of a hydrocarbon gives \(16.90\)
\(\mathrm{mg}\) of carbon dioxide and \(3.46 \mathrm{mg}\) of water, what are the
weight percents of carbon and hydrogen in the sample?