Question

Is H2O an empirical formula?

Answer 1

Absolutely!

Explanation:

The empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio that defines constituent atoms in a species (that was glib, I learned this definition as a youth!). Since `OH_2` is the simplest whole number ratio it is indeed the empirical formula.

To expand, the molecular formula is always a multiple of the empirical formula: i.e `M.F. = n(E.F.)`, where `n` is an integer. Here the multiple is `1`, because clearly the molecular formula of water is `H_2O`.

Can you tell me the empirical formulae of hydrogen peroxide, `H_2O_2`, `NO`, `N_2O_4`, and `H_2C=CH_2`?