Question

What is the empirical formula for hydrocarbon hexane?

Answer 1

Hexane has a chemical formula of `C_6H_14`. This would make the the empirical formula for hexane `C_3H_7`

For the Hydrocarbons that end in the suffix -ane like butane, propane and hexane, the base formula is `C_nH_(2n+2)`.

Propane is for the prefix pro- n = 3
`C_3H_((2)3+2)` so the formula is `C_3H_8`
Empirical Formula would be `C_3H_8`

Butane is for the prefix but- n = 4
`C_4H_((2)4+2)` so the formula is `C_4H_10`
Empirical Formula would be `C_2H_5`

Octane is for the prefix Oct- n = 8
`C_8H_((2)8+2)` so the formula is `C_8H_18`
Empirical Formula would be `C_4H_9`

I hope this was helpful.
SMARTERTEACHER