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Author Topic: Empirical formulas  (Read 306 times)
Chem123
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« on: November 01, 2007, 10:44:13 PM »
I'm a little confused on the concept of empirical formulas. Can anyone help me out?
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« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2007, 07:43:20 AM »
empirical formulas are just chemical formula but the subcripts are in the simplest whole number ratios. A molecular formula shows the actual ratio. Ionic compounds are always written as empirical formulas.

It is best understood by example

C6H6

C2H2

are both molecular formulas because their subscripts can still be simplified

the empirical formula for both is CH

just divide each subscript by the smallest subscript
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