The ratio of carbon atoms to hydrogen atoms to oxygen atoms in a molecule of dicyclohexyl maleate is 4 to 6 to 1. What is its molecular formula if its molar mass is 280 g?

We have been given an empirical formula of #C_4H_6O#. We know that the molecular formula is always a whole number multiple of the empirical formula. Thus #{4xx12.01+6xx1.01+16.0}xxn=280*g*mol^-1#. My arithmetic gives #n=4#. And thus the molecular formula is #C_16H_24O_4#.