What is the empirical formula for glucose?

1 Answer
Dec 1, 2015

The empirical formula for glucose is "CH"_2"O".

Explanation:

An empirical formula represents the lowest whole number ratio of elements in a compound.

The molecular formula for glucose is "C"_6"H"_12"O"_6". The subscripts represent a multiple of an empirical formula. To determine the empirical formula, divide the subscripts by the GCF of 6, which gives "CH"_2"O".

The empirical formula "CH"_2"O" shows very clearly that glucose, a carbohydrate, is composed of hydrated carbon atoms.