The molecular formula of glucose is C6H12O6, which is the empirical formula CH2O multiplied by 6. Glucose contains 6 carbon atoms, 12 hydrogen atoms, and 6 oxygen atoms.
The molecular formula of glucose is C6H12O6.
This is determined by multiplying the empirical formula CH2O by 6, as the molecular formula is said to be 6 times the empirical formula.
Thus, one glucose molecule contains 6 carbon atoms (C6), 12 hydrogen atoms (H12), and 6 oxygen atoms (O6).
The empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of the elements in a compound.
In the case of glucose, the empirical formula is CH2O, which is in a 1:2:1 ratio for carbon to hydrogen to oxygen.
When we multiply each element of the empirical formula by 6, we achieve the molecular formula of glucose.