What Is the Empirical Formula of Ethyl Butyrate?

The empirical formula of ethyl butyrate is C3H6O. About.com Chemistry defines an empirical formula as a formula that shows the ratio of elements present in a compound. The ratios are given in subscripts next to the element.

The empirical formula is also known as the simplest formula.

Ethyl butyrate has the chemical molecular formula of CH3CH2CH2COOCH2CH3. For the empirical formula, separate the elements. In one molecule, there are six atoms of carbon, 12 of hydrogen and two of oxygen. Divide the numbers of elements by two to find that three carbon, six hydrogen and one oxygen remain. The resultant empirical formula is C3H6O.