Final answer:
The empirical formula of methyl butanoate cannot be determined without the percentage composition of hydrogen and oxygen.
Step-by-step explanation:
The empirical formula of a compound can be determined based on its percentage composition. To find the empirical formula of methyl butanoate, we need to know the percentage composition of each element present (carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen). From the given information, we know that the compound is composed of 58.8% carbon. However, the percentages of hydrogen and oxygen are missing, so we cannot determine the empirical formula without this information.