Question

Empirical formula of methyl alcohol is:
A) ${C_6}{H_{12}}{O_6}$
B) ${C_6}{H_{11}}{O_6}$
C) $C{H_2}O$
D) $C{H_4}O$

Answer 1

The empirical formula of a chemical compound can be defined as the simplest positive integer ratio of the number of atoms that are present within a compound. The functional group in the methyl alcohol is ${\text{ - OH}}$ and one can relate this data with the given options and find out the correct choice of answer.

Complete answer: 1) First of all we will discuss the term empirical formula and relate it with the given options. The empirical formula of a compound can be said as the integer ratio of atoms with respect to the molecule.
2) We can even say that the empirical formula is a basic skeleton of a molecule that can give an idea of the number of basic molecules present in a large molecule.
3) Now let's see the molecular formula for the compound methyl alcohol and decide which is the empirical formula for that structure. The molecular formula for the methyl alcohol is as below,
Methyl group $= C{H_3}$
Alcohol group $= OH$
4) So, we can say that the molecular formula for the methyl alcohol is $C{H_3}OH$. Now let's see the empirical formula for the structure.
5) Lets first arrange the sum of all the number of atoms present in the structure which will be as follows,
$C{H_4}O$
This is the smallest integer which is possible for this molecular formula. Now, let's compare this integer ratio with the given options and see which one matches. The molecular formulas in option A, option B, and Option C do not have the integer ratio of $C{H_4}O$ hence these options are an incorrect choice.
Therefore, the Empirical formula of methyl alcohol is $C{H_4}O$ which shows option D as the correct choice.

Note: The compounds which have the same empirical formula may have different molecular formulas. The empirical formula is generally used to show what elements are present in a compound and the molecular formula is used for how many atoms are present in a compound.