What is the empirical formula of caffeine?

1 Answer

#"C"_4"H"_5"N"_2"O"#

Explanation:

To find the empirical formula for caffeine we begin with the Molecular (true) Formula

#C_8H_10N_4O_2#

We can then reduce the Molecular Formula to the Empirical (simple) Formula by dividing each of the subscripts by the greatest common factor. In this case we divide by 2.

#C_4H_5N_2O#

This is the Empirical Formula.

I hope this was beneficial.
SMARTERTEACHER