Molecular Formula and Empirical Formula Mass

[Angel Gutierrez 2E]

Hello,

Would it be possible to get a shrink factor to decrease the subscripts of the empirical formula? In other words, does it make sense to have a smaller molecular formula mass than a empirical formula mass and get a number less than 1 that would half the empirical formula?

[Gabby Magat 3F]

This is an interesting question--since the empirical formula shows the relative ratio of atoms within a molecule, it would always have a smaller mass than the molecular formula. The molecular formula is always either the same or some multiple of the empirical. Considering that the empirical formula is the smallest possible ratio of atoms in a molecule (using integers of course) I don't think we would find the molecular formula mass to be less than the empirical formula's mass.

[Vivian Chang 3L]

Hi!
No, it would not make sense to have a smaller molecular formula mass than empirical formula mass because the empirical formula is the lowest whole number ratio of atoms. This means the molecular formula mass would either have to be the same as the empirical formula mass (if the molecular formula were the same as the empirical formula) or greater.

[Crystal Hsueh 2L]

I don't believe it is possible to have a smaller molecular formula than empirical formula because empirical formula means the lowest ratio of atoms

[Jordan Tatang 3L]

Yeah, like the others said the empirical formula is the lowest ratio so anything smaller would have to be decimals and not whole numbers which isn't allowed.

[George Hernandez 3I]

That's an interesting question. However the definition of the empirical formula is the whole number ratio of atoms within a molecular formula. So it would not make sense for an empirical formula to have more mass than its molecular formula.

[Jade_Tai_2L]

I think the empirical formula is the lowest whole ratio of atoms possible! A molecular formula shouldn't be smaller than the empirical formula, and I don't think non-whole numbers are preferred either (: