Final answer:
The chemical formulas that represent empirical formulas are A. H2O, C. H2SO4, and D. Na2O, indicating that 3 out of the 5 given compounds are presented by their empirical formulas. B. P5O10 and E. C3H8 are molecular formulas, not empirical.
Step-by-step explanation:
An empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of the elements in a compound. To determine whether each given chemical formula represents an empirical formula, one must consider whether the ratios of atoms could be simplified further.
- H2O - Water's formula is already simplified; it's the ratio of 2 hydrogen to 1 oxygen.
- P5O10 - This is the molecular formula for phosphorus pentoxide, but the empirical formula would be P2O5.
- H2SO4 - Sulfuric acid's formula is also its empirical formula, as the ratio of atoms is already in the simplest form.
- Na2O - Sodium oxide's formula is already at its simplest ratio, which is the empirical formula.
- C3H8 - Propane's formula cannot be simplified further, so it's both the molecular and empirical formula.
So, the chemical formulas that represent empirical formulas are A. H2O, C. H2SO4, and D. Na2O, while B. P5O10 and E. C3H8 are not empirical formulas but rather molecular formulas.