Final answer:
Compounds that could be represented by the empirical formula CH₂ are C₂H₄, C₃H₆, C₂H₂, and C₈₈H₁₆, after we divide their molecular formulas by the greatest common divisor to match the 1:2 carbon to hydrogen ratio.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns determining which compounds could be represented by the empirical formula CH₂. An empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of elements in a compound. To check if a molecular formula corresponds to the empirical formula CH₂, we need to find if the number of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms in the molecular formula are in a 1:2 ratio, and no other elements are present.
- C₂H₆ - Dividing by 2, we get CH₃, which does not match CH₂.
- C₂H₄ - Dividing by 2, we get CH₂, which matches the empirical formula.
- C₃H₆ - Dividing by 3, we get CH₂, which matches the empirical formula.
- C₈H₁₈ - Dividing by 4, we get C₂H₄, which does not match CH₂.
- C₂H₂ - This molecular formula already matches the empirical formula CH₂.
- C₈₈H₁₆ - Dividing by 44, we get CH₂, which matches the empirical formula.
Therefore, the compounds that could be represented by the empirical formula CH₂ are C₂H₄, C₃H₆, C₂H₂, and C₈₈H₁₆.