text: empirical formula? a mass of vanillin, the main flavoring in vanilla, was completely combusted in oxygen. the mole ratios of the carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the products were 0.889 mol c, 0.890 mol h, and 0.333 mol o. what is the empirical formula of vanillin? (type your answer using the format ch2o for ch2o. keep the elements in the order given.) you have to divide each molar amount by the lowest value and try to obtain small integers carbon: 0.889 / 0.333 = 2.669 hydrogen: 0.890  / 0.333 = 2.673 oxygen: 0.333 / 0.333 = 1  as 2.669 and 2.673 are close to 2.666.... multiplying each one by three will do the trick. the empirical formula of the substance is c8h8o3