1.7.5

Empirical & Molecular Formulas

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Empirical and Molecular Formulae

The empirical formula is the simplest formula for a compound. The molecular formula gives the number and types of atoms in a compound.

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Empirical formula

  • The empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio of the atoms in a molecule.
    • E.g. Ethane has two carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms.
      • CH3 is the empirical formula for ethane.
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Molecular formula

  • A molecular formula is the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule. It is always a multiple of the empirical formula.
    • E.g. Ethane has two carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms.
      • C2H6 is the molecular formula of ethane.
      • This is 2x its empirical formula.
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Experimental determination

  • The empirical formula of a compound is often very easy to determine experimentally.
    • For instance, you could combust a hydrocarbon and find that you get twice as much water vapour as carbon dioxide.
    • This would tell you that its empirical formula is CH4 (remember H2O contains two H atoms).
  • A molecular formula is relatively difficult to determine experimentally.

Jump to other topics

1Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter

2Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure

3Structure - Classification of Matter

3.1The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements

3.2Periodic Trends

3.3Group 1 Alkali Metals

3.4Halogens

3.5Noble gases, group 18

3.6Functional Groups: Classification of Organic

3.7Functional Group Chemistry

3.8Alkanes

3.9Alcohols

3.10Halogenoalkanes

4Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?

5Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?

6Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change

7Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis

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