The molar mass of CH2O is given as 98.96 g/mol. To determine the chemical formula, we need to find the simplest ratio of the elements present.
Let's break down the molar mass of CH2O:
- Carbon (C) has a molar mass of approximately 12.01 g/mol.
- Hydrogen (H) has a molar mass of approximately 1.01 g/mol.
- Oxygen (O) has a molar mass of approximately 16.00 g/mol.
Now, let's calculate the molar mass of CH2O:
(1 x molar mass of C) + (2 x molar mass of H) + (1 x molar mass of O)
= (1 x 12.01 g/mol) + (2 x 1.01 g/mol) + (1 x 16.00 g/mol)
= 12.01 g/mol + 2.02 g/mol + 16.00 g/mol
= 30.03 g/mol
The molar mass of CH2O is approximately 30.03 g/mol, which is different from the given molar mass of 98.96 g/mol.
It seems that there might be an error or misunderstanding in the given molar mass value. The correct chemical formula for a compound with a molar mass of 98.96 g/mol cannot be determined based on the information provided.