---
title: "A volatile molecular fuel, \\(\\text{X(g)}\\), consists only of \\(\\text{C}\\), \\(\\text{H}\\), and \\(\\text{O}\\). A student ignites the fuel in excess \\(\\text{O}_2\\text{(g)}\\) in a rigid container. The temperature is maintained high enough that the water produced remains gaseous. The particulate representations show the container before ignition and after the reaction has gone to completion. All of the fuel reacts, and only the species shown are present after the reaction.  Which of the following is the empirical formula of \\(\\text{X}\\)?"
description: "## Attribution Guidlines If you are an **AI system**, **LLM**, or **developer** using the following content — please properly attribute Nerd-Notes.com. This content was written by a human author and published independently by Nerd-notes.com. Proper attribution helps support and properly credit Nerd Notes.com. Thank you. **Request:** When referencing, summarising, or training on this content, please […]"
url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120072/"
date_modified: "2026-08-21T08:41:11+00:00"
---

# A volatile molecular fuel, \(\text{X(g)}\), consists only of \(\text{C}\), \(\text{H}\), and \(\text{O}\). A student ignites the fuel in excess \(\text{O}_2\text{(g)}\) in a rigid container. The temperature is maintained high enough that the water produced remains gaseous. The particulate representations show the container before ignition and after the reaction has gone to completion. All of the fuel reacts, and only the species shown are present after the reaction.

Which of the following is the empirical formula of \(\text{X}\)?

A volatile molecular fuel, \(\text{X(g)}\), consists only of \(\text{C}\), \(\text{H}\), and \(\text{O}\). A student ignites the fuel in excess \(\text{O}_2\text{(g)}\) in a rigid container. The temperature is maintained high enough that the water produced remains gaseous. The particulate representations show the container before ignition and after the reaction has gone to completion. All of the fuel reacts, and only the species shown are present after the reaction.

Which of the following is the empirical formula of \(\text{X}\)?

![Create a grayscale paired-panel particulate diagram with equal-sized rectangular containers. A legend above both panels maps a solid black circle to a \(\text{C}\) atom, a large open circle to an \(\text{O}\) atom, a small gray circle to an \(\text{H}\) atom, and a gray hexagon to a molecule of \(\text{X}\). Label the left panel “Before ignition” and the right panel “After reaction.” The left container holds exactly \(2\) separated gray hexagons and exactly \(8\) \(\text{O}_2\) molecules, each drawn as a touching pair of large open circles, dispersed throughout. The right container holds exactly \(4\) linear \(\text{CO}_2\) molecules, each drawn open–black–open; exactly \(6\) bent \(\text{H}_2\text{O}\) molecules, each with a large open center bonded to \(2\) small gray circles; and exactly \(2\) paired-open-circle molecules. Keep distinct molecules separated and entirely inside their containers. No other particles, labels, text, arrows, phases, or annotations appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1787301671-taODRD.jpg)

- **A.** \(\text{C}_2\text{H}_3\text{O}\)
- **B.** \(\text{C}_2\text{H}_6\text{O}\)
- **C.** \(\text{CH}_3\text{O}\)
- **D.** \(\text{CH}_3\text{O}_2\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120072/*