Question

what are the molecular and empirical chemical formulas of a compound made up of these molecules? the lines stand for chemical bonds between the atoms. you can ignore the dots — they represent lone pairs and youll learn about them later.

Explanation:

Step1: Count Carbon (C) atoms

Looking at the structure, we identify each C atom. Let's count: There are 6 C atoms.

Step2: Count Hydrogen (H) atoms

Now count H atoms. Let's go through each bond: After careful counting, we find 12 H atoms.

Step3: Count Oxygen (O) atoms

Count O atoms. From the structure, there are 3 O atoms. So molecular formula is $C_6H_{12}O_3$.

Step4: Find the empirical formula

To find empirical formula, we divide the subscripts by their greatest common divisor (GCD). The GCD of 6, 12, and 3 is 3. Dividing each subscript: $C_{\frac{6}{3}}H_{\frac{12}{3}}O_{\frac{3}{3}} = C_2H_4O$.

Answer:

Molecular formula: $C_6H_{12}O_3$
Empirical formula: $C_2H_4O$