Provide two examples of when they are the same.
-
The same
H2O
CH4
Different
Benzene (E = CH, M = C6H6)
glucose (M = C6H12O6, E = CH2O)
H2O
CH4
Different
Benzene (E = CH, M = C6H6)
glucose (M = C6H12O6, E = CH2O)
-
Different:
Hexane - Molecular is C6H14, Empirical is C3H7
Octane - Molecular is C8H18, Empirical is C4H9
Same:
Methane - Molecular and Empirical are both CH4
Hydrochloric Acid - Molecular and Empirical are both HCl
The difference is that empirical formulas must be reduced down to least common factors to show the ratio of atoms in a molecule whereas molecular formulas describe the actual composition of a molecule.
Hexane - Molecular is C6H14, Empirical is C3H7
Octane - Molecular is C8H18, Empirical is C4H9
Same:
Methane - Molecular and Empirical are both CH4
Hydrochloric Acid - Molecular and Empirical are both HCl
The difference is that empirical formulas must be reduced down to least common factors to show the ratio of atoms in a molecule whereas molecular formulas describe the actual composition of a molecule.