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Chemistry vocabulary · Moles and Stoichiometry

Empirical formula

Meaning in chemistry, with examples

nounCommon term

In chemistry, empirical formula means: The simplest whole-number ratio of the atoms of each element in a compound. Glucose is C₆H₁₂O₆, but its simplest ratio is CH₂O.

In Turkish: basit formül, kaba formül, empirik formül

How it is used

Calculated from elemental analysis or percent composition data. You determine or work out the empirical formula, then use the molar mass to find the molecular formula.

Example sentences

  1. The elemental analysis gives an empirical formula of C₂H₅O.

  2. Use the molar mass to go from the empirical formula to the molecular formula.

Common collocations

  • determine the empirical formula
  • molecular formula
  • percent composition
  • elemental analysis
  • molar massThe mass of one mole of a substance, usually given in grams per mole (g/mol). For water it is about 18.02 g/mol.
  • moleThe SI unit for amount of substance. One of these units contains about 6.022 × 10²³ particles, which lets chemists count atoms and molecules by weighing them.
  • compoundA substance made of two or more different elements chemically joined in a fixed ratio. Water (H₂O) and table salt (NaCl) are common examples.
  • stoichiometryThe calculation of the amounts of reactants and products in a reaction, using the mole ratios from the balanced equation.

More terms: Moles and Stoichiometry

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