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An organic compound has the molecular formula C8H16O4. What is the empirical formula of the compound?

User Almas
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Answer:

C₂H₄O

Step-by-step explanation:

Empirical formulas show the simplest ratio of atoms in a compound in whole numbers.

We can think that all the atoms are divisible by 4.

As we need the lowest number for each subscript, empirical formula is:

C₂H₄O

We have divided, 8/4 for carbon, 16/4 for H and 4/4 for O.

The empirical formula is also known as the simplest expression to represent a chemical

User Tim Diekmann
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