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Which one of the following is not an empirical formula?

A. CH₄.
B. C₆H₁₂O₆.
C. NaCl.
D. CO₂.

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

Option B, C₆H₁₂O₆, is not an empirical formula because it is not in the simplest whole-number ratio which would be CH₂O for glucose.

Step-by-step explanation:

An empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of elements in a compound. Among the options, B. C₆H₁₂O₆ is not an empirical formula because it isn't the simplest whole-number ratio for glucose. The simplest form would be CH₂O, where carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) are in a 1:2:1 ratio. Empirical formulas are different from molecular formulas, which show the actual number of each type of atom in a molecule. A compound's empirical formula can sometimes be the same as its molecular formula, if the molecular formula cannot be simplified any further.

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