Empirical & Molecular Formulas - sample size

[406011420 Dis 1C]

When calculating an Empirical and/or a Molecular Formula, if we are given units in grams, as well as the grams of the sample size, is it necessary to convert to a sample size of 100 grams or can we go ahead and solve without making this conversion?

[Lauren_Hayashi_1E]

Hi,
Yes, I believe you need to still do 100g because even if it is given to you, it is easiest to convert the percentages assuming there are also 100g. He gave us an example problem where there was 8.00g of vitamin C, but we still assumed 100g of the sample to make the conversions and to find the empirical formula.