What are empirical formulas?

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What are empirical formulas?

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Answer 1 · 2014-06-14T15:19:50

The empirical formula is the lowest term ratio of the atoms found in a molecule.

An example would be the empirical formula for a carbohydrate is
$C H_{2} O$ $CH_2O$
one carbon for two hydrogens for one oxygen

The carbohydrate glucose has a formula of
$C_{6} H_{12} O_{6}$ $C_6H_12O_6$
Notice that the ratio is 1 C to 2 H to 1 O.

For the alkane group of hydrocarbons the molecular formulas are

Ethane $C_{2} H_{6}$ $C_2H_6$
Propane $C_{3} H_{8}$ $C_3H_8$
Butane $C_{4} H_{10}$ $C_4H_10$

In each of these molecules the molecular formula can be determines from a base formula of
$C_{n} H_{2 n + 2}$ $C_nH_(2n+2)$
This is the empirical formula for all alkanes.

Here is a video which discusses how to calculate an empirical formula.

video from: Noel Pauller

I hope this was helpful.
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What are empirical formulas?

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