Do ionic compounds have only empirical formulas?

1 Answer
Ernest Z.
Dec 26, 2016

Yes, ionic compounds have only empirical formulas.

Explanation:

Ionic compounds like #"NaCl"# exist only as separate #"Na"^"+"# and #"Cl"^"-"# ions in a crystalline arrangement.

www.seas.upenn.edu

There are no molecules. only separate sodium and chloride ions.

Thus, we must use the ratio of #"Na"^"+"# and #"Cl"^"-"# ions — the empirical formula — to describe the compound.

Indeed, all ionic compounds have only an empirical formula.

Related questions
See all questions in Empirical and Molecular Formulas
Impact of this question
5402 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License