Question

A compound has an empirical formula of c3h4o3. It's molar mass is 180 g. What is the molecular formula?

Answer 1

`C_(2)H_(8) O_(6)`

Step-by-step explanation:

Molecular formula can be calculated by finding the ratio of the molecular molar mass to the empirical molar mass, then multiplying the subscripts of the empirical molar mass by that ratio.

The empirical molar mass is 3(12.01) + 4(1.01) + 3(16.00) = 88.07

The molecular molar mass is 180g

180/88.07 = 2

So the molecular formula is
`C_(2)H_(8) O_(6)`