What is a molecular formula?

1 Answer
Mar 18, 2018

The full formula of a molecule. It states how many of each element in the molecule.

Explanation:

In a molecular formula, it states the total number of atoms of each element in a molecule.

For example, the molecular formula of glucose is #C_6H_12O_6#, and we do not simplify it into #CH_2O#.

And for each compound, they all have a molecular formula, but some can be similar, and those are called isomers, which are common in organic chemistry.

Mixtures do not have a single molecular formula, as they are made of many different compounds.