A compound with the empirical formula CH2 has a molar mass of 28 g/mol. What is the molecular formula for this compound?

1 Answer
Meave60
Nov 28, 2015

The molecular formula is #"C"_2"H"_4"#.

Explanation:

Determine the empirical formula mass.

#"CH"_2":##(1xx12"g/mol")+(2xx1"g/mol")="14 g/mol"#

Divide the molecular mass by the empirical formula mass.

#(28cancel"g/mol")/(14cancel"g/mol")=2#

Multiply the subscripts in the empirical formula times #2#.

The molecular formula is #"C"_2"H"_4"#.

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