Final answer:
The molecular formula C₆H₆ is simplified to the empirical formula CH by dividing the subscripts by their greatest common divisor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms of each element in a compound. For the compound with the molecular formula C₆H₆, we need to find the simplest whole-number ratio between carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms.
To determine the empirical formula, we divide the subscripts in the molecular formula by their greatest common divisor, which in the case of C₆H₆ is 6. Doing so, we get C1H1, but recall that subscripts of "1" are not written but rather assumed if no other number is present. Thus, the empirical formula for this compound is CH.