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empirical formula

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An empirical formula in chemistry represents the simplest whole-number ratio of elements in a compound, rather than the exact number of atoms in a molecule. For example, the empirical formula for glucose is CH₂O. This type of formula is used when the molecular structure is unknown or for substances not composed of discrete molecules, such as sodium chloride.12

While a molecular formula shows the precise number of atoms of each element in a molecule (e.g., water is H₂O), the empirical formula for water is also H₂O because the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen atoms is 2:1. Similarly, both ethylene (C₂H₄) and propylene (C₃H₆) share the same empirical formula, CH₂, as their elements are in a 1:2 ratio.2

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