Empirical Formula Information
In chemistry, the empirical formula of a chemical compound is the simplest positive integer ratio of atoms of each element present in a compound.[1] An empirical formula makes no reference to isomerism, structure, or absolute number of atoms. The empirical formula is used as standard for most ionic compounds, such as CaCl2, and for macromolecules, such as SiO2.
In contrast, the molecular formula identifies the number of each type of atom in a molecule, and the structural formula also shows the structure of the molecule.
For example, the chemical compound n-hexane has the structural formula CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3, which shows that it has 6 carbon atoms arranged in a chain, and 14 hydrogen atoms. Hexane's molecular formula is C6H14, and its empirical formula is C3H7, showing a C:H ratio of 3:7. Different compounds can have the same empirical formula. For example, formaldehyde, acetic acid and glucose have the same empirical formula, CH2O. This is the actual molecular formula for formaldehyde, but acetic acid has double the number of atoms and glucose has six times the number of atoms.
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Definition
Empirical Formula - A formula that gives the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a compound.
See also
- Empiricism (Philosophic usage and history)
- Empirical research (More on the scientific usage)
- Empirical
- Phenomenology
References
- ^ Nic, M.; Jirat, J.; Kosata, B., eds. (2006–). "Empirical formula". IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology (Online ed.). doi:10.1351/goldbook.E02063. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8. http://goldbook.iupac.org/E02063.html.
External links
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