What is the molecular formula for the folowwing compound? Empirical Formula:
C3H6O2 (M=74.08 g/mol)
empirical formula C3H602
To find the molecular formula from the empirical formula, you need to know the molar mass of the compound (M=74.08 g/mol, as given). The molar mass of the empirical formula is the sum of the molar masses of its constituent elements.
In this case, the empirical formula (C3H6O2) has 3 carbon atoms, 6 hydrogen atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms.
The molar mass of carbon (C) is 12.01 g/mol, the molar mass of hydrogen (H) is 1.01 g/mol, and the molar mass of oxygen (O) is 16.00 g/mol.
To calculate the molar mass of the empirical formula:
(3 * molar mass of C) + (6 * molar mass of H) + (2 * molar mass of O) = (3 * 12.01 g/mol) + (6 * 1.01 g/mol) + (2 * 16.00 g/mol) = 36.03 g/mol + 6.06 g/mol + 32.00 g/mol = 74.09 g/mol.
The molar mass obtained (74.09 g/mol) is very close to the given molar mass (74.08 g/mol), implying that the empirical formula is already the molecular formula.
Thus, the molecular formula for the compound is C3H6O2.