empirical formula

noun Chemistry.

1. a chemical formula indicating the elements of a compound and their relative proportions, as (CH2O)n.

noun

1. a chemical formula indicating the proportion of each element present in a moleculeC 6 H 12 O 6 is the molecular formula of sucrose whereas CH 2 O is its empirical formula Compare molecular formula, structural formula
2. a formula or expression obtained from experimental data rather than theory

n.

1. A chemical formula that indicates the relative proportions of the elements in a molecule rather than the actual number of atoms of the elements.

1. A chemical formula that indicates the relative proportions of the elements in a molecule rather than the actual number of atoms of the elements. The empirical formula of a compound may be simpler than its molecular formula, which is a multiple of the empirical formula. For example, glucose has the molecular formula C6H12O6 but the empirical formula CH2O. Compare molecular formula structural formula.