2006-09-10 13:25:16 · 3 answers · asked by jellygreentea 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Molecular formula shows number of each atom (eg. C6H12O6 is glucose) but empirical formula just shows ratio between the number of each atoms (so for glucose it is CH2O). Since the 6, 12, and 6 is divisible by 6 this is the empirical formula, you cannot reduce it further.
2006-09-10 13:33:58 · answer #1 · answered by 8 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A molecular formula is a whole-number multiple of the empirical formula. This number could be 1 or any higher integer.
An empirical formula simply gives you the correct ratio of elements in a compound.
ex: empirical = CH4
Molecular could be: CH4 if multiplied by one
C2H8 if multiplied by two
C3H12 if multiplied by three
C4H16 etc.....
C5H20
etc....
Why is this important? Because one can find the ratio of elements (ie: the empirical formula) and then determine the actual molecular formula if you know the molecular weight of the unidentified molecule. For ex, in the list above, if I said the molecular weight of the molecule was determined to be 48, and you were told the empirical fomula was CH4, then the correct molecular formula would have to be C3H12, as that is the only multiple that has a molecular weight of 48.
Got it?
2006-09-10 20:36:09 · answer #2 · answered by MrZ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
emperical formula is the simple ratio between all atoms. molecular formula is the real formula of a real compound that fits your data
2006-09-10 20:48:59 · answer #3 · answered by shiara_blade 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋