Question

Which of the following represents the empirical formula of a chemical compound?

Question 4 options:

C4H8O2


C2H4O2


C6H12O6


C2H4O

Answer 1

The correct answer is option B,
`C_(2) H_(4) O_(2)`.

The empirical formula of a chemical compound represents the simplest, most reduced ratio of the elements present in the compound. It gives the relative number of atoms of each element in the compound. To determine the empirical formula, you need to divide the number of atoms of each element by the greatest common divisor to obtain the simplest whole number ratio.

Let's examine the options given:

A.
`C_(4) H_(8) O_(2)`: To find the empirical formula, we need to simplify the subscripts. Dividing each subscript by the greatest common divisor, we get
`C_(2) H_(2) O`, which can be further simplified to
`CH_(2) O`. Therefore, the empirical formula of compound A is
`CH_(2) O`.

B.
`C_(2) H_(4) O_(2)`: Again, we divide each subscript by the greatest common divisor. In this case, there is no common divisor other than 1. Therefore, the empirical formula of compound B remains
`C_(2) H_(4) O_(2)`

C.
`C_(6) H_(12) O_(6)`: Dividing by the greatest common divisor, we get C1H2O1, which is further simplified to CHO. Hence, the empirical formula of compound C is CHO.

D.
`C_(2) H_(4) O`: Once more, we divide each subscript by the greatest common divisor, which is 2. This results in
`CH_(2) O`. Therefore, the empirical formula of compound D is
`CH_(2) O`

In summary, the empirical formulas of the given compounds are:
A.
`CH_(2) O`
B.
`C_(2) H_(4) O_(2)`
C. CHO
D.
`CH_(2) O`

Answer 2

Among the options provided, C2H4O is the one that represents an empirical formula because it is already in the lowest whole-number ratio.

Step-by-step explanation:

The empirical formula of a chemical compound represents the simplest whole-number ratio of the elements within that compound. Among the options given, C2H4O represents an empirical formula, as its subscripts for carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are already in the lowest possible whole number ratio. The other compounds listed either have larger subscripts that can be reduced, such as C6H12O6 (which has an empirical formula of CH2O), or are molecular formulas rather than empirical formulas, such as C4H8O2 (which has an empirical formula of C2H4O) and C2H4O2 (which also has an empirical formula of C2H4O).