empirical formula (redirected from empirical formulae)

empirical formula

n.

A chemical formula that indicates the relative proportions of the elements in a molecule rather than the actual number of atoms of the elements.

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empirical formula

n

1. (Chemistry) a chemical formula indicating the proportion of each element present in a molecule C₆H₁₂O₆ is the molecular formula of sucrose whereas CH₂O is its empirical formula Compare molecular formula, structural formula

2. (Physics / General Physics) a formula or expression obtained from experimental data rather than theory

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empirical formula

A chemical formula that indicates the relative proportions of the elements in a molecule rather than the actual number of atoms of the elements. The empirical formula of a compound may be simpler than its molecular formula, which is a multiple of the empirical formula. For example, glucose has the molecular formula C₆H₁₂O₆ but the empirical formula CH₂O. Compare molecular formulastructural formula

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

empirical formula - a chemical formula showing the ratio of elements in a compound rather than the total number of atoms chemical formula, formula - a representation of a substance using symbols for its constituent elements