Empirical Formula Is The Simplest Way To Write An Molecular Formula..


Eg Glucose Lelo

Molecular Formula - C6H12O6

Empirical Formula - CH20

That's The Difference Between Them

Empirical Formula:

The empirical formula of a compound is the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element present in a molecule of the compound. It gives the relative number of atoms of each element present in the compound. The empirical formula does not give the actual number of atoms of each element present in the molecule.

For example, the empirical formula of glucose is CH2O. This means that glucose contains one carbon atom, two hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom, in a ratio of 1:2:1. However, the molecular formula of glucose is C6H12O6. This means that glucose contains six carbon atoms, twelve hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms.

Difference between Empirical and Molecular Formula:

The molecular formula gives the actual number of atoms of each element present in a molecule of the compound. On the other hand, the empirical formula gives only the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element present in a molecule of the compound.

For example, the molecular formula of glucose is C6H12O6, which indicates that it contains six carbon atoms, twelve hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms. However, the empirical formula of glucose is CH2O, which indicates that it contains one carbon atom, two hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom.

Another example is the compound hydrogen peroxide. The molecular formula of hydrogen peroxide is H2O2, which indicates that it contains two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms. However, the empirical formula of hydrogen peroxide is HO, which indicates that it contains one hydrogen atom and one oxygen atom.

In conclusion, the empirical formula represents the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element present in a molecule of the compound, while the molecular formula represents the actual number of atoms of each element present in a molecule of the compound.