What are the empirical formulas for C9H20, P4O10, and B2H6?

1 Answer
Nov 12, 2015

#C_9H_20#, #P_2O_5# and #BH_3#.

Explanation:

To find the empirical formula from a molecular formula, you should divide the subscripts by the same integer in order to get the smallest whole numbers.

The empirical formula of #C_9H_20# is #C_9H_20# itself since there is no integer that we can find to divide #9# and #20# to get smaller whole numbers.

The empirical formula of #P_4O_10# is #P_2O_5#. We get it by dividing both subscripts by #2#.

The empirical formula of #B_2H_6# is #BH_3#. We get it by dividing both subscripts by #2#.