Which of the following is the empirical formula of acetic acid?

• A. C2H2O
• B. CH3COOH
• C. C2H4O2
• D. CH2O

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand that the empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms of each element in a compound.
2. Step 2: Write down the molecular formula of acetic acid, which is given as C2H4O2.
3. Step 3: Determine the ratio of atoms by dividing the subscripts of each element by their greatest common divisor. For C2H4O2, the subscripts are 2 (C), 4 (H), and 2 (O). The greatest common divisor is 2.
4. Step 4: Divide each subscript by 2: Carbon: 2/2 = 1, Hydrogen: 4/2 = 2, Oxygen: 2/2 = 1.
5. Step 5: Write the empirical formula using these simplified subscripts, which is CH2O.