Skip to content
Clear highlightsClear Highlight Report a problem

Molecular Formula

The empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element in a compound.
The molecular formula is the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule.
For example the empirical formula of glucose is CH2O. The actual numbers of atoms of carbon: hydrogen: oxygen are 6: 12: 6 so the molecular formula is C6H12O6.To find the molecular formula, divide the Mr by the empirical formula mass: 180 ÷ 30 = 6, so there are 6 CH2O units in the molecule.

Read the text

Read the text and highlight anything you think is important. When you go on, the text is hidden and you answer from memory.

Next

Specification: AQA Chemistry (7404), AS-level, 3.1.2.4 Empirical and molecular formula. Topic: Amount of Substance.

Key terms in this lesson

Empirical formula
The simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element in a compound.

More in Amount of Substance

All 33 lessons in Amount of Substance · All AQA AS-level Chemistry topics