Question

Which of the following pairs does not share the same empirical formula?

CH2O and C3H6O3

PbCl2 and PbCl4

NO2 and N2O4

C3H12 and CH4

Answer 1

@ganeshie8

Answer 2

if you simplify each of these chemical equation, you can figure out which equation shares the empirical formula and which doesn't.

let's start with CH2 and C3H6O3
if you simplify C3H6O3 by taking 3 out as a common, you are left with CH2
so you have both CH2 and CH2 which is not right

let's try PbCl2 and PbCl4
now in this situation we can't really simplify any of the following chemical equations ebcause there is nothing common we can take out. Therefore PbCl2 and PbCl4 are two different empirical formulas and it's your answer

let's try the third equation NO2 and N2O4
if we 2 out as a common from N2O4, we are left with NO2. So you have NO2 and NO2 and it shares the same empirical formula.

and lastly C3H12 and CH4
if you takeout 3 from C3H12, you are left with CH4 which proves that they do share the same empirical formula.

Thus your answer is PbCl2 and PbCl4

Answer 3

Thank you asib for your answer. It was very well instructed.