Final answer:
The molecular formula is (C3H2O) * 2.9189 ≈ C9H6O3. the molecular formula, you need to know the molar mass of the empirical formula and the molar mass of the molecular formula. Divide the molar mass of the molecular formula by the molar mass of the empirical formula to get the ratio of the molar masses.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the molecular formula of a compound, you first need to find the empirical formula. In this case, we are given that the empirical formula is C3H2O and the molar mass is 216 g/mol. To find the empirical formula, you need to determine the ratio of the number of atoms of each element in the compound. For carbon, there are three atoms, for hydrogen there are two atoms, and for oxygen, there is one atom. So the empirical formula is C3H2O.
To find the molecular formula, you need to know the molar mass of the empirical formula and the molar mass of the molecular formula. Divide the molar mass of the molecular formula by the molar mass of the empirical formula to get the ratio of the molar masses. Multiply the subscripts in the empirical formula by this ratio to get the subscripts in the molecular formula. In this case, the ratio of the molar masses is 216 g/mol / 74 g/mol = 2.9189. So the molecular formula is (C3H2O) * 2.9189 ≈ C9H6O3.