Can empirical and molecular formulas be the same?

1 Answer
anor277
Aug 19, 2016

Absolutely; in fact most ionic substances have the same empirical and molecular formulae.

Explanation:

As you know, the empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio defining constituent atoms in a species. The molecular formula is some multilple of this empirical formula, and the multiple may be 1.

The odd-numbered alkanes, CH_4, C_3H_8, C_5H_12, C_7H_16, etc. all fit this criterion.

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