empirical formula
Americannoun
noun
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a chemical formula indicating the proportion of each element present in a molecule Compare molecular formula structural formula
C6H12O6 is the molecular formula of sucrose whereas CH2O is its empirical formula
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a formula or expression obtained from experimental data rather than theory
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A chemical formula that indicates the relative proportions of the elements in a molecule rather than the actual number of atoms of the elements. The empirical formula of a compound may be simpler than its molecular formula, which is a multiple of the empirical formula. For example, glucose has the molecular formula C 6 H 12 O 6 but the empirical formula CH 2 O.
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Compare molecular formula structural formula
Etymology
Origin of empirical formula
First recorded in 1820–30
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The empirical formula mass of a covalent compound may be compared to the compound’s molecular or molar mass to derive a molecular formula.
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
What is the empirical formula of the compound of silver and carbon?
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
If the compound’s molecular mass is determined to be 180 amu, this indicates that molecules of this compound contain six times the number of atoms represented in the empirical formula:
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
The subscripts in this formula are not the smallest-possible whole numbers, as each can be divided by 2 to yield the empirical formula, NaCO2.
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
In other words, twenty-four different compounds, all having the same empirical formula and similar sugar-like properties are theoretically possible.
From The Chemistry of Plant Life by Thatcher, Roscoe Wilfred
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
