How would you calculate the empirical formula of acetic acid (CH3COOH)?

Answer 1

You would divide the numbers of each atom in the molecular formula by their highest common factor.

The most basic formula for a compound is the empirical formula.

The empirical formula's element subscripts have to have the smallest possible ratio.

We can write the molecular formula #"CH"_3"COOH"# as #"C"_2"H"_4"O"_2#.
The ratios of #"C:H:O"# are #2:4:2#.
The highest common factor of #2# and #4# is #2#.
We can divide each of these numbers by #2# to get the ratio
#"C:H:O" = 1:2:1#
The empirical formula of acetic acid is then #"CH"_2"O"#.
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Answer 2

The molar masses of the three elements—carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O)—that are present must first be determined. Then, the molar mass of each element is divided by the corresponding atomic mass. Then, each result is divided by the smallest value that is obtained. Lastly, the ratios are rounded to the nearest whole number to obtain the subscripts in the empirical formula, which in this case is CH2O.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

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