Question

State whether the pairs of compounds have the same or different empirical formulas

C2H2 and C6H6

( SAME )

C2H6 and C4H10

( DIFFERENT )

NO2 and N2O4

( SAME )

I would like to understand this a lot more

I guessed on some of this but I would like to understand the material so when I see it on a test I know what’s going on & what I should look for ?

How to tell if same or different ? Etc

Thank you

Answer 1

Empirical formula is a formula giving the proportions of the element present in a compound but not the actual numbers. While calculating the empirical formula we divide the whole actual formula by highest possible common factor of no. of atom of different elements in a compound.

So in C2H2 and C6H6 proportion of carbon and hydrogen is same and hence their empirical formula is same which is CH which is obtained by dividing C2H2 by 2 and C6H6 by 6.

Same is for NO2 and N2O4. Their empirical formula is NO2.

But empirical formula of C2H6 and C4H10 is different.empirical formula of C2H6 is obtained by dividing C2H6 by 2 which is CH3 and empirical formula of C4H10 is obtained by dividing it by 2 which is C2H5.