As a domain expert in chemistry, I specialize in the analysis and understanding of chemical compounds. When it comes to determining the empirical formula of a compound, it's essential to understand what an empirical formula represents. The empirical formula is the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms of each element in a compound. It does not reflect the actual structure of the molecule but rather the ratio of the elements present. Now, let's address the question at hand: What is the empirical formula of CH2? Firstly, it's important to clarify that CH2 is not a compound but rather a hydrocarbon known as ethene or ethylene. It's an unsaturated hydrocarbon with a double bond between the two carbon atoms. The molecular formula for ethene is indeed C2H4. However, when we talk about the empirical formula, we're looking for the simplest ratio of elements. In the case of ethene (C2H4), the ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms is 2:4, which can be simplified to 1:2 by dividing both numbers by 2. Therefore, the empirical formula for ethene is CH2, which reflects the simplest whole-number ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms in the compound. It's worth noting that the empirical formula is not unique to a compound. Different compounds can share the same empirical formula but have different molecular formulas. For instance, both butene (C4H8) and ethene (C2H4) have the empirical formula CH2, but they are distinct compounds with different molecular structures. When determining the empirical formula, it's crucial to consider the stoichiometry of the compound, which is the quantitative relationship between the amounts of reactants and products in a chemical reaction. The empirical formula is derived from this stoichiometry, ensuring that the ratio of elements is expressed in the simplest terms. In summary, the empirical formula of CH2 for ethene is a reflection of its simplest whole-number ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms, which is 1:2. This formula is a fundamental tool in chemistry for identifying and comparing the elemental composition of different compounds. read more >>

molecule of a compound. o Example: the compound butene has a molecular formula of C4H8. The empirical formula of butene is CH2 because there is a 1:2 ratio of carbon atoms to hydrogen atoms.read more >>