Start by finding the empirical formula (simplest). Turn the percentages to grams (imagine100g total) then convert to moles using the amu of each element.
Divide all moles by the smallest mole.
41.39 g C / 12 g/mol = 3.45 mol C
3.47 g H / 1 g/mol = 3.47 mol H
55.14 g O / 16 g/mol = 3.45 mol O
You can see that they are all about the same mole so if you divide them you get 1 of each. Empirical formula is then: CHO
Now, using the given mass 116.07 you solve for how many CHO there are.
CHO amu = 12+1+16 = 29 amu
116.07 amu / 29 amu = 4
molecular formula:
[tex] C_{4} H_{4} O_{4} [/tex]
