EMPIRICAL FORMULA

Empirical Formula

Definition Of Empirical Formula

Empirical Formula of a chemical compound is a formula which gives an idea about the type of elements and ratio of atoms present in the compound.

More About Empirical Formula

Empirical formula is the simplest form of molecular formula.

Video Examples: Empirical Formula - Molecular Formula

Example of Empirical Formula

CH₃COOH has two carbons, four hydrogen and two oxygen atoms. So it could be written as C₂H₄O₂and so it reduces to CH₂O and the ratio of C:H:O = 1:2:1
C₆H₁₂O₆ has six carbons, twelve hydrogen and six oxygen atoms. So it could be written as CH₂O.

Solved Example on Empirical Formula

Ques: What is the empirical formula of a compound with a molecular formula of C₄H₈?

Choices:

A. CH₂
B. C₄H₂
C. CH₄
D. None of the above
Correct Answer: A

Solution:

Step 1: C₄H₈ has 4 carbon atoms and 8 hydrogen atoms
Step 2: The ratio of carbon and hydrogen atoms is 1:2. So, C₄H₈ can be reduced to CH₂
Step 3: Therefore, CH₂ is the empirical formula of a compound with a molecular formula of C₄H₈

Quick Summary

Empirical formula represents the simplest ratio of elements in a compound.
It can be derived from the molecular formula by dividing by the greatest common factor of the subscripts.
The empirical formula may or may not be the same as the molecular formula.

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🍎 Teacher Insights

Use visual aids and real-world examples to illustrate the concept. Emphasize the process of finding the greatest common factor and reducing the subscripts to the simplest whole numbers. Provide plenty of practice problems.

🎓 Prerequisites

Basic stoichiometry
Understanding of chemical symbols
Concept of mole

Check Your Knowledge

Q1: What is the empirical formula of a compound with a molecular formula of C4H8?

CH2 C4H2 CH4 None of the above

Q2: The empirical formula of a compound is CH2O. Which of the following could be its molecular formula?

C2H4O CH2O2 C3H8O C6H10O3

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between empirical and molecular formula?
A: The empirical formula gives the simplest whole number ratio of atoms in a compound, while the molecular formula gives the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule of the compound.

Q: Can two different compounds have the same empirical formula?
A: Yes, different compounds can have the same empirical formula if their atoms are in the same ratio, even if the actual numbers of atoms differ.