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What formula gives the ratio of elements?

User JoeBayLD
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Final answer:

The empirical formula of a compound represents the simplest whole-number ratio of its elements, such as CH2O for glucose. It can be determined from the molar amounts of elements, reflecting the relative ratios on the molar level, and is used for stoichiometric calculations that involve mole ratios.

Step-by-step explanation:

The formula that provides the ratio of elements in a compound is known as the empirical formula. An empirical formula reflects the simplest whole-number ratio of the elements within a compound. For example, the empirical formula of glucose, which has a molecular formula of C6H12O6, is CH2O. This simplest form shows that there is one carbon atom for every two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

The ratio of elements can be determined differently depending on whether you are looking at the number of atoms or the number of moles. For atoms, you simply count the subscripts in the chemical formula. For moles, you would use the molar mass of each element to find out how many moles of each element are present in one mole of the compound.

In practice, if you have the molar amounts of each element in a compound, you can determine the empirical formula by identifying the smallest whole-number multiples of these molar amounts. The mole ratio is often used in stoichiometric calculations, which is the ratio of the number of moles of one substance to the number of moles of another, as defined by a balanced chemical equation.

User Bartosz Gajda
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