a. calculate from formula percent compositions, the mass of C and total Mass of O, and the mass of H.
b. now divide each of these by the atomic mass of C, H, O, that will give you moles of each.
Now divide each of them by the lowest of the moles for C, H, or O.
That give you the mole ratio for the elements, multipy up until you get a whole number ratio.That then is the empirical formula
https://www.google.com/search?q=determinng+empirical+formula&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
Combustion of 1g of an organic compound known to contain C, H and O produces 2.36g CO2, 0.64g H2O. What is the empirical formula?
2 answers
C3H2O