Empirical+Formulas+From+Analyses

=__Empirical Formula__=

In chemistry, the empirical formula of a compound is the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of each element present in a compound. This is often confused with the molecular formula.

__Examples of common substances__:

 * ~ Substance ||~ Molecular formula ||~ Empirical formula ||
 * [|Water] || H 2 O  ||  H 2 O  ||
 * [|Methane] || CH 4  ||  CH 4  ||
 * [|Benzene] || C 6 H 6  || CH ||
 * [|Sulfur] || S 8  || S ||
 * [|Glucose] || C 6 H 12 O 6  || CH 2 O ||

Example:

=
Hexane's molecular formula is C6H14, and its empirical formula is C3H7 , showing a C:H ratio of 3:7. Different compounds can have the same empirical formula. For example, glucose, formaldehyde and acetic acid have the same empirical formula, CH2O .======



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empirical_formula http://www.edinformatics.com/interactive_molecules/info/hexane.jpg http://www.hull.ac.uk/chemistry/masspec3/images/pic%20hexane.gif