The empirical formula provides the simplest whole number ratio of the elements within a compound. For propane (C3H8) and butene (C4H8), both compounds consist of carbon and hydrogen. The empirical formula for propane is C3H8, which can be simplified to CH3, while for butene, the empirical formula is C4H8, which simplifies to CH2.
Because both empirical formulas (CH3 for propane and CH2 for butene) are distinct, an empirical analysis could indeed be used to tell the difference between the two compounds. If a chemical analysis determines the empirical formula to be CH3, it indicates the presence of propane, and if it’s CH2, it suggests butene.
Thus, the empirical formulas derived from chemical analysis are effective in distinguishing propane and butene due to their different ratios of carbon to hydrogen atoms.