text: 1) determine the mass of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.\ncarbon: 5.751 g x (12 / 44) = 1.568 g\nhydrogen: 4.708 g x (2 / 18) = 0.523 g\noxygen: 4.187 - 1.568 - .523 = 2.096 g\n\n2) convert to moles.\ncarbon: 1.568 / 12 = 0.131 mol\nhydrogen: 0.523 / 1 = 0.523 mol\noxygen: 2.096 / 16 = 0.131 mol\n\n3) divide each molar amount by the lowest value to obtain small integers\ncarbon: 0.131 / 0.131 = 1\nhydrogen: 0.523 l / 0.131 = 4\noxygen: 0.131 / 0.131 = 1\n\nThe empirical formula of the substance is (CH4O)n\nThe atomic masses add up to 32, which is also the molar mass of the compound. Therefore n=1 and we find CH4O as final result.