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Multiple Choice
What is the empirical formula for ?
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1
Identify the subscripts of each element in the molecular formula. For C₂H₆, the subscripts are 2 for carbon (C) and 6 for hydrogen (H).
Determine the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the subscripts. Here, find the GCD of 2 and 6, which is 2.
Divide each subscript in the molecular formula by the GCD to simplify the ratio to the smallest whole numbers. For carbon: 2 ÷ 2 = 1, and for hydrogen: 6 ÷ 2 = 3.
Write the empirical formula using the simplified subscripts. This gives C₁H₃, which is conventionally written as CH₃.
Confirm that the empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in the compound, which it does in this case.