Chem empirical questions?

1. Jan 8, 2006

megamu002

I searched the internet for the answers and i keep coming up short maybe someone could help??????

1. Which of the following is an empirical formula?
a) C5H10O5
b) C6H12O2
c) C12H17OH

Which of the following is an empirical formula?
NaO
C2H8N2
C6H3Cl2
What is the percent carbon in carbon dioxide?
12.01%
27.3%
44.009%

What is the percent nitrogen in potassium nitrate?
13.9%
101.1%
19.007%
Calculate the empirical formula for a compound that is 94.1% O and 5.9% H.
H2O
H2O2
HO2
HO

2. Jan 8, 2006

mrjeffy321

empirical formulas give the simplest whole number rations of the elements in a compound.
Take C5H10O5 for example, the ratio between Carbonydrogen:Oxygen is 5:10:5. This can be simplified to 1:2:1 and the ration remains the same, so we know this in a not an empirical formula. But on the other hand, of C12H17OH cannot be simplified without changing the ratio.

You might also want to have a look here,
http://www.chem.tamu.edu/class/majors/tutorialnotefiles/empirical.htm