empirical formulas

[TheMentalist]

I am having trouble with empirical formulas.
From the checkpoints, it says
24.44% Carbon   3.42% Hydrogen    72.14% chlorine
so I divide by their molar mass

24.22/12=2.04   3.42/1=3.42   72.14/35.5

then,
divide by the smallest number
2.04/2.04=1          3.42/2.04=1.67       2.04/2.04=1
The answer in the checkpoints is shown below:
whole number ratio   3:5:3
but I don't understand why do you have to multiply 1.67 by 3? Why 3?
Sorry if this sounds a stupid question!! 

[IndefatigableLover]

I am having trouble with empirical formulas.
From the checkpoints, it says
24.44% Carbon   3.42% Hydrogen    72.14% chlorine
so I divide by their molar mass

24.22/12=2.04   3.42/1=3.42   72.14/35.5

then,
divide by the smallest number
2.04/2.04=1          3.42/2.04=1.67       2.04/2.04=1
The answer in the checkpoints is shown below:
whole number ratio   3:5:3
but I don't understand why do you have to multiply 1.67 by 3? Why 3?
Sorry if this sounds a stupid question!! 

Because you can't have point something of a ratio... multiplying 1.67 by 3 will make it into a whole number

[bentennason]

You can't have 1.67 of a H atom (well at least not in VCE) so you have to find the smallest number that you can multiply 1.67 by to give an integer. In this case 3 x 1.67 gives 5. Therefore everything else in the compound must be multiplied by 3 as well, to obtain the ratio of 1:1.67:1. 
Preeeeeeetty much a longer version of what Henry said.