How are empirical and molecular formulas for a compound related?

1 Answer
anor277
May 25, 2018

The #"molecular formula"# is a WHOLE number multiple of the
#"empirical formula..."#

Explanation:

That is...#"molecular formula"=nxx{"empirical formula"}#...

And of course the multiple MIGHT be one....i.e.

#"molecular formula.."-="..empirical formula.."#

The empirical formula is simply obtained by a combustion experiment....where carbon is oxidized to carbon dioxide, hydrogens are collected as water..and nitrogen and other elements are analyzed. We get the percentage composition with respect to carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen; oxygen is NOT usually analyzed.

See here and links.

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