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Yes, structural formulae show how the atoms in a compound are arranged. For example, CH3CH2CH2CH3 is the structural formula for butane. Unlike the displayed formula, it does not show the individual bonds that are formed.

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14y ago
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12y ago

Yes, that is the definition.

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Q: Does a molecular formula show the types and numbers of atoms present in a molecule of a compound?
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What shows the types and numbers of atmos joined in a single molecule of a molecular compound?

molecular formula


What does a structural formula depict that a molecular formula does not?

Structural formulas show a representation of the molecular structure, while chemical formulas do not. This is especially important when multiple compounds have the same chemical formula, but a different molecular structure.


Is H1.9O1.9 a formula of a compound?

No. A true compound formula uses whole numbers.


What is the difference between a structural formula and a molecular model?

A chemical formula is the number of atoms in a substance, and is the same as a molecular formula (provided the substance is a molecule - if not, it has no molecular formula). A structural formula shows how the atoms are linked, and there are different interpretations of this: eg C3H8O2 is the chemical formula of 1,2 propan di-ol, which is the same as the chemical formula of 1,1 propan di-ol the structural formula however is CH2OHCHOHCH3 for 1,2 propan di-ol and CH(OH)2CH2CH3 for 1,1 propan di-ol. A displayed formula shows all the bonds: ........H..OH...H.............O-H...H...H ........|....|.....|..................|....|.....| ....H-C.-.C.-.C.-.H.....H-O-C.-.C.-.C.-.H ........|....|.....|..................|....|.....| ....H-O...H....H.................H...H....H 1,2 propan di-ol........1,1 propan di-ol ---------------------------------- Some chemicals, such as table salt, have no molecule. Thus, they only have chemical formula but not molecular formula. The chemical formula of table salt is NaCl. There are other salts, such as Na2SO4, MgSO4, etc. (If you hear people saying "the salt molecule has the formula of NaCl...", believe me, they do not know what they are talking about.) Some compounds exist as molecules- discrete entities, such as water. This kind of compounds have molecular formula. Water's is H2O. Structural formula? Never heard of.


Is the number of atoms in a molecular formula always greater than a empirical?

No. A molecular formula can be the same as the empirical formula, such as CH4 (methane), because the two component atoms exist in a ratio that cannot be mathematically further broken down - one carbon to four hydrogens. In this case the molecular formula (the actual number of atoms per molecule), and the empirical formula (the simplest ratio of those numbers) is identical. On the other hand, ethane, C2H6 - two carbons to 6 hydrogens - has a molecular formula of C2H6 and a empirical formula of CH3, the ratio of 2 to 6 reduced to its simplest whole number form. Sooooooooooo, the molecular formula will always be equal to or greater than the empirical formula, and the empirical formula will always be equal to or less than the molecular formula. In other words (as if that wasn't enough), the molecular formula will never be less than the empirical formula and the empirical formula will never be greater than the molecular formula, but THE TWO CAN BE EQUAL. Whew!!! Ray

Related questions

What shows the types and numbers of atmos joined in a single molecule of a molecular compound?

molecular formula


What summarises all the atoms in a molecule?

The atoms in a molecule are summarised by the molecular formula. The molecular formula is the identity and numbers of its constituent atoms.


Would ionic or covalent molecules use the molecular formula or empirical formula?

What you write for an ionic compound is called the formula unit, but the formula unit is almost always the same as the empirical formula. The answer to your question could not be the molecular formula because an ionic compound is not a molecule.


What do you know by looking at a chemical compound by its chemical formula?

the number and kinds of atoms in the compoundIn an ionic compound, the formula gives the ions and their ratios in the crystal lattice. In a molecular compound, the formula gives the numbers of atoms of each element in a molecule.


What do you know about a chemical compound by looking at its chemical compound?

the number and kinds of atoms in the compoundIn an ionic compound, the formula gives the ions and their ratios in the crystal lattice. In a molecular compound, the formula gives the numbers of atoms of each element in a molecule.


What do you know about chemical compound by looking at it's chemical formula?

the number and kinds of atoms in the compoundIn an ionic compound, the formula gives the ions and their ratios in the crystal lattice. In a molecular compound, the formula gives the numbers of atoms of each element in a molecule.


What do you know about a chemical compound by looking at its chemical?

the number and kinds of atoms in the compoundIn an ionic compound, the formula gives the ions and their ratios in the crystal lattice. In a molecular compound, the formula gives the numbers of atoms of each element in a molecule.


Describe the differences between molecular formulas and structural formulas for molecular compounds?

A molecular formula lists the numbers of the atoms of a specific element in a compound. A structural formula is a picture of how the atoms in a specific molecule are connected, with each atom represented by its chemical symbol. For example, oxygen's molecular formula is O2. Its structural formula is O-O.


What are lowered numbers in a compounds formula?

The lowered numbers are called subscripts, and represent either the number of atoms of the element they follow in a molecular formula, or the ratio of ions in an ionic compound. For example, the molecular formula for a water molecule, H2O, indicates that there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom per molecule. Also, the formula unit for the ionic compound calcium chloride, CaCl2, indicates that in the ionic compound, the ratio of calcium ions to chloride ions is 1 to 2.


What do you know about a chemical compounds by looking at its chemical Formula?

the number and kinds of atoms in the compoundIn an ionic compound, the formula gives the ions and their ratios in the crystal lattice. In a molecular compound, the formula gives the numbers of atoms of each element in a molecule.


What do you know about chemical compounds by looking at its chemical formula?

the number and kinds of atoms in the compoundIn an ionic compound, the formula gives the ions and their ratios in the crystal lattice. In a molecular compound, the formula gives the numbers of atoms of each element in a molecule.


What is the simplest part of a compound?

The simplest form for a compound, called the empirical formula, gives the simplest whole-number ratio of the elements in the compound, and may differ from the actual molecular formula. For example, the molecular formula for glucose is C6H12O6. The empirical formula would be CH2O, which can be found by dividing the molecular subscripts by 6.