Empirical formula question

[Kaihan_Danesh_2J]

Do empirical formulas have to have whole numbers or can they be numbers like 1.5, 2.5, etc

[Sabrina Galvan 3J]

Empirical numbers have to contain whole numbers since you can't have a fraction of an atom. Therefore, if you get nonwhole numbers in your conversation to the empirical formula, multiple the ratios by whole numbers until your product is close to the nearest whole number!

[Natalie Do 3F]

And just to add to that, they have to be the most possibly reduced whole numbers so your example 1.5 and 2.5 would have to be 3 and 5, not 6 and 10 for example.

[Mina Tadros 3L]

When calculating empirical formulas, you will have to have them as whole numbers. Thus, when calculating empirical formulas, you would have to multiply every single element in a way that gets rid of any fraction.

[LarisaAssadourian2K]

All empirical formulas need to be in whole numbers. However, keep in mind that they should also be reduced to the lowest possible whole numbers as well, meaning that the numbers don't all share a common factor.

[Rayna Irving 2C]

I agree with what was said, if you end up with a fraction in your empirical formula, multiply it by whatever number gets the fraction to a whole number. Then don't forget to multiply all of your other numbers in the empirical formula by that same value to make sure everything is equal.

[IshanModiDis2L]

Empirical formulas do need to be whole numbers as you cannot have a fraction of an atom. That is why we multiply to get a whole number ratio (ex. 1.5x2=3) but it is key to make sure that it is in its lowest whole number ratio, otherwise it will be considered a molecular formula.

[Susan Chamling 1F]

There can only be whole numbers in an empirical formula, as it is the simplest positive integer ratio of atoms in a compound.

[Elizabeth Kim 2K]

Since an empirical formula by definition is the simplest whole number ratio of atoms present in a compound, it can only have whole numbers. If you find that you are calculating a ratio of atoms that includes decimals, multiply to obtain the lowest whole number ratio possible so that you only have whole numbers in the formula. Hope this helps!

[Crystal Ma 2J]

They have to have whole numbers! If you get a fraction, you must multiply by a number that makes it the lowest whole number possible.

[SuryaDham 3E]

Empirical Formulas have to have whole number stoichiometric coefficients, you cant have half an atom.
Hope this helps

[205696437]

You must have a whole number!!! The empirical formula shows the relative umber of atoms. An example of empirical formula are CO2, H2O,NO2, etc. Hope this helped.

[Sarah Hong 2K]

Yes! Empirical formulas must always have whole numbers as the stoichiometric coefficients.

[Amy Shimizu 1J]

When solving for the empirical formula, it must have whole numbers because it doesn't make sense for there to be part of an atom. Since the empirical formula shows the relative number of atoms, there must be whole atoms in it.

[Sidharth Paparaju 3B]

You need whole numbers since empirical formulas are essentially the smallest ratio of atoms--you can't have half of an atom in a molecule.

[Sarah Lesmeister 2F]

Since atoms are the smallest unit of matter you can't have part of an atom. And by using whole numbers you show a clear ratio between the reactants and products.

[505734174]

Empirical formulas should always have whole numbers because they represent whole atoms in a ratio.