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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.

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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.


Two compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural formulas are?

Two compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural formulas are isomers. Isomers are compounds with the same number and types of atoms but arranged differently. An example is ethanol (C2H6O) and dimethyl ether (C2H6O), both have the same molecular formula but different structural formulas.


Chemical formula for ethyl acetate?

Molecular formula is C2H5CH3COO . Structural formula is CH3COOCH2CH3 .


What is an organic compound with identical molecular formulas that differ in the order the atoms are connected?

Isomers are organic compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements of atoms. These structural isomers can differ in the order the atoms are connected, leading to different properties and reactivities. An example of structural isomers are n-pentane and isopentane, both with the molecular formula C5H12.


Can you determine a compounds structural formula if you are given the molecular formula?

You might be able to do so in a few cases. If you take CH4 or O3, and know the bonds that those elements form, you'll see those can only be arranged one way. But if you take C4H10, this can be arranged in different ways. The four carbon atoms could be in a chain of four, which is known as Butane. Or you could have one central Carbon atom with all three of the others attached to it, this is called Isobutane. You don't know which you are talking about from just saying C4H10 alone.

Related Questions

Can molecular formula be used to show difference between isomers?

No, molecular formula alone cannot show the difference between isomers. Isomers have the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements of atoms. Additional information, such as structural formula or connectivity of atoms, is needed to differentiate between isomers.


Is there any difference between chemical formula or molecular formula?

no


What is the difference between structural and condensed formula?

The structural formula show the position of atoms 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 is the difference between a chemical formulamolecular formula and a structural formula?

A structural formula represents the molecule graphically, whereas the other does not.


What is the advantage of using a structural formula over a molecular formula?

A molecular formula indicates the numbers of atoms of each element in the molecule, but a structural formula also indicates the arrangement of the atoms in the molecule. For example, H2O is the molecular formula for water, but H-O-H is the structural formula, showing how the hydrogen and oxygen atoms are arranged in the molecule.


What is the organic formula for caffeine?

The molecular formula is C8H10N4O2. Go to the link for the structural formula.


What is the relationship between the following compounds?

The relationship between the compounds is that they are isomers, meaning they have the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements.


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.


isomers?

Compounds that have the same atoms (molecular formula) but different in the connectivity between the atoms are constitutional (formerly 'structural') isomers.


Two compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural formulas are?

Two compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structural formulas are isomers. Isomers are compounds with the same number and types of atoms but arranged differently. An example is ethanol (C2H6O) and dimethyl ether (C2H6O), both have the same molecular formula but different structural formulas.


C2H2 is a chemical formula for acetylene. Which type of chemical formula is this A molecular formula An empirical formula A structural formula?

C2H2 is a molecular formula because it shows the actual number of atoms of each element present in a molecule of acetylene.