Question

You analyze two substances in the laboratory and discover that each has the empirical formula CH2O. You can easily see that they are different substances because one is a liquid with a sharp, biting odor and the other is an odorless, crystalline solid. How can you account for the fact that both have the same empirical formula?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Molecular formulas is the actual number of atoms of each element in the compound while empirical formulas is the simplest or reduced ratio of the elements in the compound.

Thus,

Molecular mass = n × Empirical mass

The empirical formula is $CH_2O$

The two substances are differed by their physical properties.

These properties match with :

$C_3H_6O_3$ in which n =3 is molecular formula for lactic acid. Lactic acid is exists in liquid state and have a biting order.

$C_6H_{12}O_6$ in which n =6 is molecular formula for glucose. Glucose is exists in crystalline solid form and is odorless.