# How do empirical formulas and molecular formulas differ?

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of $C {H}_{2} O$, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of ${C}_{6} {H}_{12} {O}_{6}$ and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of ${C}_{5} {H}_{10} {O}_{5}$

Water has an empirical formula of ${H}_{2} O$ which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is ${H}_{2} {O}_{2}$, it has an empirical formula of $H O$.

SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of $C {H}_{2} O$, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of ${C}_{6} {H}_{12} {O}_{6}$ and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of ${C}_{5} {H}_{10} {O}_{5}$

Water has an empirical formula of ${H}_{2} O$ which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is ${H}_{2} {O}_{2}$, it has an empirical formula of $H O$.

SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of $C {H}_{2} O$, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of ${C}_{6} {H}_{12} {O}_{6}$ and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of ${C}_{5} {H}_{10} {O}_{5}$

Water has an empirical formula of ${H}_{2} O$ which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is ${H}_{2} {O}_{2}$, it has an empirical formula of $H O$.

SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of $C {H}_{2} O$, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of ${C}_{6} {H}_{12} {O}_{6}$ and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of ${C}_{5} {H}_{10} {O}_{5}$

Water has an empirical formula of ${H}_{2} O$ which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is ${H}_{2} {O}_{2}$, it has an empirical formula of $H O$.

SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of $C {H}_{2} O$, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of ${C}_{6} {H}_{12} {O}_{6}$ and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of ${C}_{5} {H}_{10} {O}_{5}$

Water has an empirical formula of ${H}_{2} O$ which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is ${H}_{2} {O}_{2}$, it has an empirical formula of $H O$.

SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of $C {H}_{2} O$, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of ${C}_{6} {H}_{12} {O}_{6}$ and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of ${C}_{5} {H}_{10} {O}_{5}$

Water has an empirical formula of ${H}_{2} O$ which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is ${H}_{2} {O}_{2}$, it has an empirical formula of $H O$.

SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of $C {H}_{2} O$, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of ${C}_{6} {H}_{12} {O}_{6}$ and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of ${C}_{5} {H}_{10} {O}_{5}$

Water has an empirical formula of ${H}_{2} O$ which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is ${H}_{2} {O}_{2}$, it has an empirical formula of $H O$.

SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of $C {H}_{2} O$, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of ${C}_{6} {H}_{12} {O}_{6}$ and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of ${C}_{5} {H}_{10} {O}_{5}$

Water has an empirical formula of ${H}_{2} O$ which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is ${H}_{2} {O}_{2}$, it has an empirical formula of $H O$.

SMARTERTEACHER

Jan 18, 2014

The empirical formula represents the ratio of atoms in a molecule in lowest terms, while the molecular formula is the actual atom number in the molecule.

For instance, carbohydrates have an empirical formula of $C {H}_{2} O$, while the carbohydrate glucose has a molecular formula of ${C}_{6} {H}_{12} {O}_{6}$ and the sugar ribose found in RNA has a molecular formula of ${C}_{5} {H}_{10} {O}_{5}$

Water has an empirical formula of ${H}_{2} O$ which is the same as the molecular formula, but hydrogen peroxide whose molecular formula is ${H}_{2} {O}_{2}$, it has an empirical formula of $H O$.