How do empirical formulas and molecular formulas differ?

9 Answers
Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of #CH_2O#, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of #C_6H_(12)O_6# and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of #C_5H_(10)O_5#

Water has an empirical formula of #H_2O# which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is #H_2O_2#, it has an empirical formula of #HO#.

I hope this was helpful.
SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of #CH_2O#, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of #C_6H_(12)O_6# and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of #C_5H_(10)O_5#

Water has an empirical formula of #H_2O# which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is #H_2O_2#, it has an empirical formula of #HO#.

I hope this was helpful.
SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of #CH_2O#, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of #C_6H_(12)O_6# and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of #C_5H_(10)O_5#

Water has an empirical formula of #H_2O# which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is #H_2O_2#, it has an empirical formula of #HO#.

I hope this was helpful.
SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of #CH_2O#, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of #C_6H_(12)O_6# and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of #C_5H_(10)O_5#

Water has an empirical formula of #H_2O# which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is #H_2O_2#, it has an empirical formula of #HO#.

I hope this was helpful.
SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of #CH_2O#, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of #C_6H_(12)O_6# and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of #C_5H_(10)O_5#

Water has an empirical formula of #H_2O# which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is #H_2O_2#, it has an empirical formula of #HO#.

I hope this was helpful.
SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of #CH_2O#, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of #C_6H_(12)O_6# and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of #C_5H_(10)O_5#

Water has an empirical formula of #H_2O# which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is #H_2O_2#, it has an empirical formula of #HO#.

I hope this was helpful.
SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of #CH_2O#, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of #C_6H_(12)O_6# and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of #C_5H_(10)O_5#

Water has an empirical formula of #H_2O# which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is #H_2O_2#, it has an empirical formula of #HO#.

I hope this was helpful.
SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of #CH_2O#, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of #C_6H_(12)O_6# and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of #C_5H_(10)O_5#

Water has an empirical formula of #H_2O# which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is #H_2O_2#, it has an empirical formula of #HO#.

I hope this was helpful.
SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of #CH_2O#, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of #C_6H_(12)O_6# and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of #C_5H_(10)O_5#

Water has an empirical formula of #H_2O# which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is #H_2O_2#, it has an empirical formula of #HO#.

I hope this was helpful.
SMARTERTEACHER