Question

A compound is found to have an empirical formula of CH2O. If its molecular mass is 60.0 g/mol, what is its molecular formula?

Answer 1

The empirical formula CH₂O has a mass [(12 × 1) + (1 × 2) + (16 × 1)] = 30 g/mol

If the empirical formula is 30 g/mol,
and the molecular formula is 60 g/mol

Then the multiple is = 60 g/mol ÷ 30 g/mol 
                                = 2

Therefor the molecular formula is 2(CH₂O) = C₂H₄O₂   (OPTION 2)