Empirical Formula (Noun)
Meaning
A chemical formula showing the ratio of elements in a compound rather than the total number of atoms.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The empirical formula for benzene is CH, showing that one carbon atom is bonded to one hydrogen atom in a single unit.
- Determination of the empirical formula for an unknown compound involves finding the smallest whole number ratio of its component elements.
- An empirical formula indicates the types and ratio of atoms in the compound's molecular building blocks, not necessarily the number in the entire molecule.
- Since water has an empirical formula of H2O and its molecular formula is H2O as well, its empirical and molecular formulas are identical.
- Ethene and benzene both have different empirical formulas due to varying carbon and hydrogen compositions within each molecule.