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What is the empirical formula of c6h8o6?

Lucas Wilson | 2023-06-17 12:09:41 | page views:1002
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Charlotte Wilson

Studied at the University of Lagos, Lives in Lagos, Nigeria.
Hello, I'm an expert in chemistry with a deep understanding of chemical formulas and their significance in the study of compounds. Today, we're going to delve into the concept of empirical formulas and how they are derived, using C6H8O6 as our example.

An empirical formula is a representation of a chemical compound in terms of the simplest whole number ratio of atoms present in the compound. It does not reflect the actual structure of the molecule but rather the simplest integer ratio of its constituent atoms. To determine the empirical formula of a compound, follow these steps:


1. Identify the molecular formula: The molecular formula of a compound is the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule of the substance. In our case, the molecular formula is given as C6H8O6.


2. Count the number of atoms: Count the total number of atoms for each element in the molecular formula. For C6H8O6, we have 6 carbon (C) atoms, 8 hydrogen (H) atoms, and 6 oxygen (O) atoms.


3. Simplify the ratio: To find the simplest whole number ratio, divide the number of each type of atom by the smallest number of atoms among the elements present. In C6H8O6, the smallest number is 6 (for oxygen). Dividing the number of each atom by 6, we get:
- Carbon: \( \frac{6}{6} = 1 \)
- Hydrogen: \( \frac{8}{6} \approx 1.33 \) (which we round to 1, since we're looking for whole numbers)
- Oxygen: \( \frac{6}{6} = 1 \)


4. Adjust for hydrogen: Since hydrogen often has a different ratio due to its small size and common occurrence in organic compounds, we may need to adjust our ratio. However, in this case, we've already simplified the ratio to whole numbers.


5. Finalize the empirical formula: The empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio of atoms, which in this case is CH2O.

Now, let's address the reference content provided. It suggests multiplying the subscripts by a scaling factor to get the empirical formula C3H4O3. This is incorrect based on the steps we've just outlined. The empirical formula should be CH2O, not C3H4O3, because we've determined the simplest whole number ratio of atoms in the compound.

To summarize, the empirical formula of C6H8O6 is CH2O. This formula represents the simplest whole number ratio of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in the compound.


2024-04-19 15:26:36

Ethan Moore

Works at the International Committee of the Red Cross, Lives in Geneva, Switzerland.
x 2 -- multiply subscripts by scaling factor. C6H8O6. -- molecular formula. Empirical formula = C3H4O3.
2023-06-21 12:09:41

Benjamin Davis

QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
x 2 -- multiply subscripts by scaling factor. C6H8O6. -- molecular formula. Empirical formula = C3H4O3.
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