Multiple Choice
What is the empirical formula for a compound that is 36.1% Ca and 63.9% Cl by mass?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Empirical Formula
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Which of the following compounds has the empirical formula CH2O?
A
Glucose (C6H12O6)
B
Acetic acid (C2H4O2)
C
Formaldehyde (CH2O2)
D
Ethanol (C2H6O)
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the molecular formula of each compound given: Glucose (C6H12O6), Acetic acid (C2H4O2), Formaldehyde (CH2O2), and Ethanol (C2H6O).
To find the empirical formula, determine the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms for each compound by dividing the subscripts in the molecular formula by their greatest common divisor.
For Glucose (C6H12O6), divide each subscript by 6: C6/6 = 1, H12/6 = 2, O6/6 = 1, resulting in the empirical formula CH2O.
For Acetic acid (C2H4O2), divide each subscript by 2: C2/2 = 1, H4/2 = 2, O2/2 = 1, resulting in the empirical formula CH2O.
For Formaldehyde (CH2O2) and Ethanol (C2H6O), check if their subscripts can be simplified to CH2O; if not, their empirical formulas differ.
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