The empirical formula of styrene is CH; its molar mass is 104.1 g/mol. What is the molecular formula of styrene?

A) C2H4
B) C8H8
C) C10H12
D) C6H6
E) none of these

i got C8H8 because i did $$\frac{MW}{EF} = n$$
but it says the answer should be C2H4

how is that possible?

Question

The empirical formula of styrene is CH; its molar mass is 104.1 g/mol. What is the molecular formula of styrene?

A) C2H4
B) C8H8
C) C10H12
D) C6H6
E) none of these

i got C8H8 because i did $$\frac{MW}{EF} = n$$
but it says the answer should be C2H4

how is that possible?

xishem · Answer

Why did you take the molecular weight divided by the empirical formula? And how do you even do that?

lgbasallote · Answer

well i know that that $$MF = EF \times n$$
and tehn.... i know that n is just $$\frac{MW}{EF}$$

lgbasallote · Answer

btw...by EF i mean the molecular weight of the EF

lgbasallote · Answer

and by MW i mean the given molecular weight

lgbasallote · Answer

then n is the constant i multiply to the subscripts of the empirical formula to get the molecular formula

xishem · Answer

Ok. Well the molecular formula for styrene is actually C8H8, as you can see from this MSDS for styrene: http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9925112

lgbasallote · Answer

so it really is c8h8?

xishem · Answer

Yes.