anyone kno how to figure this out?
2007-05-08 08:57:46 · 4 answers · asked by mrchrister93023 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
CH2 is the empirical formula and C5H10 is the molecular compound. The empirical formula is the simplest ratio between two whole numbers, so empirical formulas are not necessarily molecular compounds. The molecular formula tells you the exact number of atoms of each element in a compound. Think of it in terms of simplifying fractions: 5/10 is the same as 1/2. So if I have for example C6H12, it has the same empirical formula as C5H10, since 5/10 = 6/12 = 1/2.
2007-05-08 09:06:05 · answer #1 · answered by William Q 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CH2 is the empirical and C5H10 the molecular formula. You get the empirical from the %-composition and divide the formula weight of that (14) into the molecular weight (72) to get 5, which is how you know the molecular formula is C5H10 and not C4H8 or C6H12.
2007-05-08 09:04:48 · answer #2 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CH2 doesn't exist by itself. A carbon atom wants to bond with 8 electrons in it outer valence shell. CH2 doesn't meet this requirement. the C5H10 can exist in a number of forms. You could have five carbons in a row with a double bond between the number 1 and 2 carbon with a a second double bond between the number 4 and 5 carbon. This compound would be called 1,4 pentadiene.
2007-05-08 09:18:13 · answer #3 · answered by richard Alvarado 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CH2 is emperical... C5H10 is the compound... an emperical formula is kind of pointless i think... its like finding a "lowest common denominator" only for chemical formulas in this case... to get from the emperical to the actual formula, you would just multiply it by 5 (CH2) x5 = C5H10
2007-05-08 09:07:14 · answer #4 · answered by grmkorn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋