next up previous contents
Next: Mass Percent Composition Up: Stoichiometry Previous: Units   Contents

Empirical and Molecular Formulas

What is the difference between empirical and molecular formulas?


An empirical formula gives the simplest relative proportion of atoms for a given molecule. A molecular formula gives the exact number of atoms for a given molecule.


Elaborate using glucose as an example.


The empirical formula of glucose is C$_{1}$H$_{2}$O$_{1}$ while the molecular formula of glucose is C$_{6}$H$_{12}$O$_{6}$.



Alfa Diallo 2006-08-04