Question

difference between emperical and molecular formula

Answer 1

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 C6H12O6

Its empirical formula would be CH2O which would be its molecular formula divided by the smallest whole number

 

 Chemical NameEmpirical Formula Molecular Formula  Hydrogen peroxide HOH2O2 BenzeneCHC6H6 Dinitrogen tetroxide NO2N2O4

It is important to remember that several compounds can have the same empirical formula.

Chemical Name Empirical FormulaMolecular Formula BenzeneCHC6H6 AcetyleneCHC2H2            

Answer 2

Empirical formula a formula giving the proportions of the elements present in a compound but not the actual numbers or arrangement of atoms.

Molecular formula a chemical formula that indicates the kinds of atoms and the number of each kind in a molecule of a compound.