Question

Differentiate between emperical and

molecular formula. Give an example of
a substance having different emperical
and molecular formula

Answer 1

Here’s an example:

CH (methylene) is the empirical formula.

C2H2 is a molecular formula. It is a gas called Ethyne.

C8H8 is an oily liquid called Styrene. It is also a molecular formula.

Now compare: even though the empirical formula for these compounds is the same, they have different molecular formulas and different properties.

Step-by-step explanation:

Some background information:

The empirical formula is the formula with the lowest whole number ratio of an element in a compound. A molecular formula is the chemical formula of a (molecular) compound. The molecular formula gives us the exact number of atoms or moles in that compound.

I have attached pictures for a better understanding of the empirical formula.