Themaster711 said:I do not know anything about the nitrogen because nothing is said about it in the question. Also, the mass given for the pyridine does me no good because I do not know the formula for it.
An empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio of atoms present in a compound. It represents the relative number of each type of atom in a molecule.
To determine the empirical formula, you need to know the mass or percentage composition of each element in the compound. You can then convert these values into moles and find the smallest whole number ratio between the elements.
The empirical formula represents the simplest ratio of atoms in a compound, while the molecular formula represents the actual number of each type of atom in a molecule. The molecular formula is always a whole number multiple of the empirical formula.
In some cases, the data for a compound may not be in whole numbers, which can make it difficult to determine the empirical formula. In these cases, you may need to round the numbers to the nearest whole number or use a conversion factor to find the correct ratio.
Yes, there are limitations to using empirical formula. It does not provide information about the actual arrangement of atoms in a molecule, and it cannot be used for compounds with complex structures. Additionally, it only gives the relative number of each type of atom and does not provide information about the actual mass of each element in a compound.