BRAINCAKEEmpirical Formula
The empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element in a compound.
Some substances do not exist as individual molecules. For example sodium chloride is an ionic salt that exists as a giant lattice. The formula NaCl gives the whole number ratio of atoms of sodium and chlorine.
NaCl is also called the formula unit when calculating relative masses.
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Key terms in this lesson
- relative atomic mass
- The weighted mean mass of one atom of an element compared with 1/12 of the mass of one atom of carbon-12.
More in Amount of Substance and Calculations
- Ionic Equations - Question3
- Ionic Equations - Question 4
- Calculations of Reacting Masses
- Working out Equations from Reacting Masses
- Percentage Composition by Mass
- Combustion Analysis
- Molecular Formula
- Example Question - 1
All 39 lessons in Amount of Substance and Calculations · All Edexcel AS-level Chemistry topics