Question

Write the molecular and empirical formulas of the following compounds:

a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Short answer

a) Molecular formula: C₄H₈

Empirical formula: CH₂

b) Molecular formula: C₄H₆

Empirical formula: C₂H₃

c) Molecular formula: H₂Si₂Cl₄

Empirical formula: HSiCl₂

d) Molecular formula: H₃PO₄

Empirical formula: H₃PO₄

Step-by-step solution

– Determine the definition of molecular formula

A molecular formula is a representation of a molecule that uses chemical symbols to indicate the type of atoms. It is also used as abbreviations for the names of compounds.Molecular formula for the compounds is

a) Molecular formula: C₄H₈

b) Molecular formula: C₄H₆

c) Molecular formula: H₂Si₂Cl₄

d) Molecular formula: H₃PO₄

– Determine the definition of empirical formula

Empirical formula indicates the types of atoms present and the simplest whole-number ratio of the number of atoms (or ions) in the compound. Empirical formula for the compound is

a) Empirical formula: CH₂

b) Empirical formula: C₂H₃

c) Empirical formula: HSiCl₂

d) Empirical formula: H₃PO₄