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  • Understanding Empirical Formulas: C12H16O3, C6H12O4, C12H22O11, C3H8O2
    You're asking if these are definitely not empirical formulas. To figure that out, we need to understand what an empirical formula is:

    * Empirical Formula: The simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a compound.

    Let's analyze each formula:

    * C12H16O3: This formula can be simplified by dividing all subscripts by 4, giving us C3H4O0.75. Since we need whole numbers, this is not an empirical formula.

    * C6H12O4: This formula can be simplified by dividing all subscripts by 2, giving us C3H6O2. This is an empirical formula.

    * C12H22O11: This formula can be simplified by dividing all subscripts by 11, giving us C1.09H2O1. Since we need whole numbers, this is not an empirical formula.

    * C3H8O2: This formula cannot be simplified further and is already in its simplest whole-number ratio. This is an empirical formula.

    Therefore:

    * C12H16O3 and C12H22O11 are definitely not empirical formulas.

    * C6H12O4 and C3H8O2 are empirical formulas.

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