Uploaded June 2014 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
We'll practice writing empirical formulas for a whole bunch of molecular formulas. In order to write the empirical formula, you find the largest number you can divide all of the subscripts by, to reduce it as much as possible. You know that you have the empirical formula when your new compound formula cannot be reduced any more. For some formulas, the molecular formula is that same as the empirical formula. Also, it's possible for more than one compound to have the same empirical formula. In fact, that happens quite often.
We'll practice writing empirical formulas for a whole bunch of molecular formulas. In order to write the empirical formula, you find the largest number you can divide all of the subscripts by, to reduce it as much as possible. You know that you have the empirical formula when your new compound formula cannot be reduced any more. For some formulas, the molecular formula is that same as the empirical formula. Also, it's possible for more than one compound to have the same empirical formula. In fact, that happens quite often.
