When finding empirical formula from masses, how close does the number have to be to a whole integer?

Question

moonlitfate · Answer

@Thatonegirl_ Did you figure out the answer to your problem yet?

anonymous · Answer

nope

thatonegirl_ · Answer

like when you have the percentages or mass of each of the compounds and you find the empirical formula, you have to divide it by the smallest one and you get an answer. It's supposed to be as close to a whole number as possible to round it, otherwise you have to multiply it. But I'm wondering how close? @MoonlitFate

cuanchi · Answer

I use this rule for rounding
0.1~ 0
0.2 x 5 =1
0.3 x 3 =0.9~ 1
0.4 x 5 =2
0.5 x 2 =1
0.6 x 3 = 1.8~2
0.7 x 3 = 2.1~2
0.8 x 5= 4
0.9~1

thatonegirl_ · Answer

okay thank you! @cuanchi

cuanchi · Answer

0.6 x  5 = 3 @Thatonegirl_