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An empirical formula is one that shows the lowest whole number ratio of the elements present. The molecular formula shows the composition of the molecules. An example is phosphorus pentoxide, P2O5 empirical formula, P4O10 molecular formula.

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Dejah Walter

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2y ago
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11y ago

"Molecular formulas show the total number of each atom in the molecule. Empirical formulas only show the ratio of the elements in the molecule.

For example - acetate Molecular Formula Empirical Formula

C6H12O6 CH2O "

I just wanted to note that although this is correct the chemical formula in the example "C6H12O6" is not acetate. It is glucose. Acetate is a derivative of acetic acid.

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14y ago

Empirical formulas show the simplest whole number ratio of these atoms. Molecular formulas show the actual ratio of atoms in the compound. For example: Glucose is the a simple sugar whose molecular formula is C6H12O6 Its empirical formula would be CH2O which would be its molecular formula divided by the smallest whole number. Chemical Name Hydrogen peroxide Empirical Formula HO Molecular Formula H2O2 chemical name Benzene empirical formula CH molecular formula C6H6 remember that several compounds can have the same empirical formula

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10y ago

In an empirical formula, at least one of the element symbols must have a subscript (possibly including the implicit subscript "1" that is presumed when there is no explicit subscript) that is a Prime number. The subscripts in a chemical formula must correspond to the actual number of atoms of each element present in a molecule or formula unit of the compound and therefore may be any integral multiple of the subscripts in the empirical unit. For example, the empirical formula of both acetylene (also called "ethyne") and benzene is CH, but the chemical formulas are C2H2 for acetylene and C6H6 for benzene.

The empirical formula uses as subscripts the lowest whole number ratio of atoms combined in the substance. Many ionic substances do not have a molecular formula because they form a crystal lattice and not individual molecules. Molecular compounds may have both. The molecular formula shows the actual number of combined atoms in a single molecule.

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Q: What is the difference between empirical and molecular formula?
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Related questions

How are empirical and molecular for a compound related?

A molecular formula is identical to the empirical formula, and is based on quantity of atoms of each type in the compound.The relationship between empirical and molecular formula is that the empirical formula is the simplest formula, and the molecular can be the same as the empirical, or some multiple of it. An example might be an empirical formula of C3H8. Its molecular formula may be C3H8 , C6H16, C9H24, etc. Looking at it the other way, if the molecular formula is C6H12O6, the empirical formula would be CH2O.


How are the empirical and molecular for a compound related?

A molecular formula is identical to the empirical formula, and is based on quantity of atoms of each type in the compound.The relationship between empirical and molecular formula is that the empirical formula is the simplest formula, and the molecular can be the same as the empirical, or some multiple of it. An example might be an empirical formula of C3H8. Its molecular formula may be C3H8 , C6H16, C9H24, etc. Looking at it the other way, if the molecular formula is C6H12O6, the empirical formula would be CH2O.


How are the Empirical and molecular formulas for compounds related?

A molecular formula is identical to the empirical formula, and is based on quantity of atoms of each type in the compound.The relationship between empirical and molecular formula is that the empirical formula is the simplest formula, and the molecular can be the same as the empirical, or some multiple of it. An example might be an empirical formula of C3H8. Its molecular formula may be C3H8 , C6H16, C9H24, etc. Looking at it the other way, if the molecular formula is C6H12O6, the empirical formula would be CH2O.


How are the empirical molecular formulas for a compound related?

A molecular formula is identical to the empirical formula, and is based on quantity of atoms of each type in the compound.The relationship between empirical and molecular formula is that the empirical formula is the simplest formula, and the molecular can be the same as the empirical, or some multiple of it. An example might be an empirical formula of C3H8. Its molecular formula may be C3H8 , C6H16, C9H24, etc. Looking at it the other way, if the molecular formula is C6H12O6, the empirical formula would be CH2O.


How are empirical and molecular formulas for a compound relation?

A molecular formula is identical to the empirical formula, and is based on quantity of atoms of each type in the compound.The relationship between empirical and molecular formula is that the empirical formula is the simplest formula, and the molecular can be the same as the empirical, or some multiple of it. An example might be an empirical formula of C3H8. Its molecular formula may be C3H8 , C6H16, C9H24, etc. Looking at it the other way, if the molecular formula is C6H12O6, the empirical formula would be CH2O.


How are the empirical and molecular formulas for a compound. Related?

A molecular formula is identical to the empirical formula, and is based on quantity of atoms of each type in the compound.The relationship between empirical and molecular formula is that the empirical formula is the simplest formula, and the molecular can be the same as the empirical, or some multiple of it. An example might be an empirical formula of C3H8. Its molecular formula may be C3H8 , C6H16, C9H24, etc. Looking at it the other way, if the molecular formula is C6H12O6, the empirical formula would be CH2O.


Can the empirical formula of a compound be triple its molecular formula?

No: The molecular formula is never smaller than the empirical formula.


Which chemical formula is both an empirical formula and a molecular formula?

It would be a molecular formula for C3h5o.


Can an empirical formula be triple its molecular formula?

Yes, it is possible for an empirical formula to be the same as the molecular formula. For example, Lactic acid's molecular formula is C3H6O3, which would make its empirical formula CH2O.


Is S8 Empirical or Molecular?

Molecular. The empirical formula would simply be S.


Is CH2O an empirical or molecular formula?

CCl4 is the molecular formula for carbon tetrachloride. It is the same as its empirical formula.


How do you calculate Molecular formula from empirical formulaWhat could you do with that information to determine that the empirical and molecular formulas are related to one another by a factor of 6?

In order to find molecular formula from empirical formula, one needs to know the molar mass of the molecular formula. Then you simply divide the molar mass of the molecular formula by the molar mass of the empirical formula to find out how many empirical formulae are in the molecular formula. Then you multiply the subscripts in the empirical formula by that number.