What is the empirical formula for glucose? Chemistry Q&A

What is the empirical formula for glucose?

Step 1: Defining Empirical and molecular formula

Empirical formula:

• An empirical formula is a formula in which the atoms in a molecule are present in their lowest ratio.
• An empirical formula gives the simplest ratio of atoms in a molecule or compound.

Molecular formula:

• The molecular formula is the formula in which the atoms in a molecule is present in fixed ratio.
• The molecular formula gives the exact number of atoms in a molecule or compound.

Relation between molecular formula and empirical formula:

• n = Molecular formula mass/Empirical formula mass
• Where,
  n is the whole number multiple that is 1,2,3,4…. so on.

Step 2: Determining the Empirical formula of Glucose

• The molecular formula of glucose is
  C₆H₁₂O₆ .
• In glucose, the value of
  ‘n’ is 6 that means the subscript of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen are divided by the whole number 6 and we get an empirical formula of glucose.
• Empirical formula = C₆H₁₂O₆ = CH₂O
• Thus, the empirical formula for glucose is
  CH₂O .