What is determined by an empirical formula?

Answer 1

Yes, but you also have to pay attention to how many molecules of each element are in the compound.

For instance: H2O (water)

The weight of H is roughly 1 and the weight of O is roughly 16, but formula weight of water is NOT equivalent to just 1 + 16 = 17

You have to be sure that you account for the total amount of molecules so since there are 2 H present you have to multiply the weight of H by 2; 1 x 2 = 2

Now you have the weight of all the H present and just add that to the weight of the single O molecule

2 + 16 = 18; thus the formula weight of water is 18.

Answer 2

An empirical formula gives the simplest whole-number ratio of the elements in a compound. It does not provide the actual number of atoms of each element present in the compound, only the relative proportions.

Answer 3

You determine it by eating honey with cheese for breakfast

Answer 4

The empirical formula of a compound gives the simplest ratio of the atoms in the compound (for instance the empirical formula C2H4 would be CH2).

Answer 5

Sum of all the atomic weights in a chemical formula gives the molecular weight of the compound.