Combustion analysis is a method used to determine the empirical formula of a compound, especially hydrocarbons. By measuring the masses of carbon dioxide and water produced during combustion, the amounts of carbon and hydrogen in the original sample can be calculated.

No, determining the molecular formula generally requires knowing the empirical formula first, as it provides the simplest ratio of the elements. Once you have the empirical formula and molar mass, you can calculate the molecular formula.

An empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a compound, while a molecular formula shows the exact number of each type of atom in a molecule. The molecular formula is often a multiple of the empirical formula.

To determine the molecular formula, you need the empirical formula and the compound’s molar mass: Calculate the empirical formula mass. Divide the molar mass by the empirical formula mass to find the multiplier. Multiply the subscripts in the empirical formula by this number to get the molecular formula.