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.
Consider as another example a sample of compound determined to contain 5.31 g Cl and 8.40 g O. Following the same approach yields a tentative empirical formula of:
From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019
In this case, dividing by the smallest subscript still leaves us with a decimal subscript in the empirical formula.
From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019
Coefficients for the tentative empirical formula are derived by dividing each molar amount by the lesser of the two:
From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019
The molecular formula is thus derived from the empirical formula by multiplying each of its subscripts by three:
From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019
The principal constituent of the crude material is the pure gutta, a hydrocarbon of the empirical formula C10H16.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 6 "Groups, Theory of" to "Gwyniad" by Various
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.
