What is the empirical formula for glucose?

1 Answer
Meave60
Dec 1, 2015

The empirical formula for glucose is "CH"_2"O"CH2O.

Explanation:

An empirical formula represents the lowest whole number ratio of elements in a compound.

The molecular formula for glucose is "C"_6"H"_12"O"_6"C6H12O6. The subscripts represent a multiple of an empirical formula. To determine the empirical formula, divide the subscripts by the GCF of 66, which gives "CH"_2"O"CH2O.

The empirical formula "CH"_2"O"CH2O shows very clearly that glucose, a carbohydrate, is composed of hydrated carbon atoms.

Related questions
See all questions in Empirical and Molecular Formulas
Impact of this question
64004 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License