---
title: "A student analyzes two separate, pure liquid compounds, Substance \\(X\\) and Substance \\(Y\\). Elemental analysis shows that both substances consist of \\(52.14\\%\\text{ C}\\), \\(13.13\\%\\text{ H}\\), and \\(34.73\\%\\text{ O}\\) by mass. Furthermore, mass spectrometry confirms that both substances have an identical molar mass of \\(46.07\\text{ g/mol}\\).  Which of the following statements correctly identifies whether these data are sufficient to determine the specific chemical structures of Substance \\(X\\) and Substance \\(Y\\), and provides the correct justification?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123453/"
date_modified: "2026-09-28T11:59:48+00:00"
---

# A student analyzes two separate, pure liquid compounds, Substance \(X\) and Substance \(Y\). Elemental analysis shows that both substances consist of \(52.14\%\text{ C}\), \(13.13\%\text{ H}\), and \(34.73\%\text{ O}\) by mass. Furthermore, mass spectrometry confirms that both substances have an identical molar mass of \(46.07\text{ g/mol}\).

Which of the following statements correctly identifies whether these data are sufficient to determine the specific chemical structures of Substance \(X\) and Substance \(Y\), and provides the correct justification?

A student analyzes two separate, pure liquid compounds, Substance \(X\) and Substance \(Y\). Elemental analysis shows that both substances consist of \(52.14\%\text{ C}\), \(13.13\%\text{ H}\), and \(34.73\%\text{ O}\) by mass. Furthermore, mass spectrometry confirms that both substances have an identical molar mass of \(46.07\text{ g/mol}\).

Which of the following statements correctly identifies whether these data are sufficient to determine the specific chemical structures of Substance \(X\) and Substance \(Y\), and provides the correct justification?

- **A.** The data are sufficient, because the Law of Definite Proportions dictates that two chemically distinct substances cannot possess the exact same elemental percent composition by mass.
- **B.** The data are sufficient, because substances that have the same molar mass and empirical formula must exhibit identical physical and chemical bonding arrangements.
- **C.** The data are insufficient, because elemental percent composition only provides information regarding the relative number of core electrons rather than the ratio of constituent atoms.
- **D.** The data are insufficient, because substances with the same molecular formula have identical ratios of elements by mass despite having different atomic connectivity.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123453/*