A compound that is composed of only carbon and hydrogen contains 85.7% C and 14.3% H by mass. What is the empirical formula of the compound? A)CH₂ B)C₂H₄ C)CH₄ D)C₄H₈ E)C₈₆H₁₄

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The empirical formula is determined by the simplest whole number ratio of moles of each element. For 85.7% C and 14.3% H, the ratio of moles is approximately 1:2, giving the empirical formula CH₂.

A Compound That Is Composed of Only Carbon and Hydrogen