empirical formula

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a chemical formula indicating the elements of a compound and their relative proportions, as (CH 2 O) n .

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empirical formula British  

noun

1. 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

2. a formula or expression obtained from experimental data rather than theory

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empirical formula Scientific  

1. 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.

2. Compare molecular formula structural formula

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Etymology

Origin of empirical formula

First recorded in 1820–30

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How does empirical-formula compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• empirical formula vs. molecular formula

Example Sentences

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empirical formula

What is the empirical formula of the black tungsten chloride?

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

Molecular formulas are derived by comparing the compound’s molecular or molar mass to its empirical formula mass.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

As long as the molecular or empirical formula of the compound in question is known, the percent composition may be derived from the atomic or molar masses of the compound's elements.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

What is the empirical formula for this compound?

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

However, since it was impossible to determine the molecular weight, he could not say what the gas was, save that the empirical formula was C62TH H39O27N5.

From The Black Star Passes by Campbell, John Wood