Why do you divide every mol amount by the smallest one when you are evaluating the empirical formula?

Question

anonymous · Answer

I understand that's what you're SUPPOSED to do, but why is it that you do it to get the relative amounts of each amount in a compound?

arindameducationusc · Answer

An Empirical formula shows the ratio of atoms within a molecule.

arindameducationusc · Answer

C2H6 its Empirical formula is CH3

anonymous · Answer

And the smallest number does this because it will be that number compared to everything to everything else as 1? So like

arindameducationusc · Answer

A molecular formula is the same as or a multiple of the empirical formula, and is based on the actual number of atoms of each type in the compound

anonymous · Answer

I guess that makes sense. I guess that's valid.