Multiple Choice
Which statement best describes the relationship between an empirical formula and a molecular formula?
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3. Chemical Reactions
Empirical Formula
Multiple Choice
Which of the following represents the empirical formula for the compound with the molecular formula x_4y_8?
A
xy
B
x_4y_8
C
xy_2
D
x_2y_4
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the molecular formula given: \(x_4y_8\).
Recall that the empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a compound.
Determine the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the subscripts in the molecular formula. Here, the subscripts are 4 for \(x\) and 8 for \(y\).
Divide each subscript in the molecular formula by the GCD to simplify the ratio: \(\frac{4}{4} = 1\) for \(x\) and \(\frac{8}{4} = 2\) for \(y\).
Write the empirical formula using the simplified subscripts: \(xy_2\).
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