Answer : The empirical and molecular formula of the compound is,
Solution :
If percentage are given then we are taking total mass is 100 grams.
So, the mass of each element is equal to the percentage given.
Mass of C = 58.8 g
Mass of H = 9.8 g
Mass of O = 31.4 g
Molar mass of C = 12 g/mole
Molar mass of H = 1 g/mole
Molar mass of O = 16 g/mole
Step 1 : convert given masses into moles.
Moles of C = 
Moles of H = 
Moles of O = 
Step 2 : For the mole ratio, divide each value of moles by the smallest number of moles calculated.
For C = 
For H = 
For O = 
The ratio of C : H : O = 2.5 : 5 : 1
To make the ratio in a whole number we are multiplying ratio by 2, we get:
The ratio of C : H : O = 5 : 10 : 2
The mole ratio of the element is represented by subscripts in empirical formula.
The Empirical formula = 
The empirical formula weight = 5(12) + 10(1) + 2(16) = 102 gram/eq
Now we have to calculate the molecular formula of the compound.
Formula used :


Molecular formula = 
Therefore, the molecular formula of the compound is, 