The mass of an organic compound was found by mass spectrometry to be 58.07746. Is the sample C4H10, C3H6O, or C2H6N2? Exact masses of elements are: 1.007825 (1H); 12.00000 (12C); 14.003074 (14N); 15.994915 (16O).

A molecular formula represents the number and type of atoms in a molecule. It is expressed using chemical symbols and subscripts, indicating how many of each atom are present. For example, C4H10 indicates a molecule with four carbon atoms and ten hydrogen atoms. Understanding molecular formulas is essential for determining the identity of a compound based on its mass.

Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. It helps identify the composition of a sample by determining the mass of its molecules. The resulting mass spectrum provides information about the molecular weight, allowing chemists to deduce the molecular formula of unknown compounds based on their mass.

Atomic mass is the mass of a single atom, typically expressed in atomic mass units (amu). To find the molar mass of a compound, one sums the atomic masses of all atoms in its molecular formula. This calculation is crucial for comparing the experimental mass obtained from mass spectrometry with the theoretical masses of potential molecular formulas, aiding in the identification of the compound.