molecular formula
Difference between an Empirical and Molecular Formula.
Empirical formulas and molecular formulas are types of chemical formulas.Chemical formulas represent the composition of a substance with atomic symbols.Empirical formulas show the simplest whole number ratio of these atoms.Molecular formulas show the actual ratio of atoms in the compound.Here is an example:Glucose is the a simple sugar whose molecular formula is C6H12O6Its empirical formula would be CH2O which would be its molecular formula divided by the smallest whole number
Determining a Molecular Formula from an Empirical Formula
How to determine a molecular formula from an empirical formula?
- Calculate the formula weight of the empirical formula
- Divide the molecular weight of the unknown compoundi by the formula weight of its determined empirical formula
- Multiply the subscripts of the empirical formula by the number.
In order to determine a molecular formula of an unknown compound from its empirical formula, you must know the molecular weight of the compound.
