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Formulae and Amounts of a Substance

Empirical and molecular formulae

  • 3 things to know
  • Unit AS 2

Overview

Term empirical formula, term molecular formula and empirical formula of benzene, C₆H₆.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Define the term empirical formula.

Key term

Define the term molecular formula.

Key term

How is the molecular formula of a compound related to its empirical formula?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Define the term empirical formula.

    Model answer

    The empirical formula is the simplest whole-number ratio of the atoms of each element present in a compound.

  2. 2

    Define the term molecular formula.

    Model answer

    The molecular formula gives the actual number of atoms of each element present in one molecule of a compound.

  3. 3

    How is the molecular formula of a compound related to its empirical formula?

    Model answer

    The molecular formula is a whole-number multiple n of the empirical formula, where n is the relative molecular mass divided by the empirical formula mass.

  4. 4

    State the empirical formula of benzene, C₆H₆.

    Model answer

    The empirical formula of benzene is CH.

  5. 5

    State the empirical formula of glucose, C₆H₁₂O₆.

    Model answer

    The empirical formula of glucose is CH₂O.

  6. 6

    Why can an ionic compound such as sodium chloride only be given an empirical formula?

    Model answer

    Sodium chloride is a giant lattice with no separate molecules, so its formula can only state the simplest ratio in which the ions are present.

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