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Deduce the molecular formula

What does it mean to deduce the molecular formula?
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Original post by u.sha
What does it mean to deduce the molecular formula?

It depends on the information given in the rest of the question. The molecular formula is the actual ratio of atoms in a molecule, as opposed to the empirical formula which is the simplest ratio of atoms.

The fact the question says deduce rather than calculate may suggest that you already know the empirical formula and need to get the molecular formula, in which case you need to multiply the empirical formula by a number to get the molecular formula e.g. if the empirical formula is CH2 and the molecular mass is 28 we know CH2 would have an Mr of 14, so 28 must be two CH2 units giving C2H4.

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