empirical formula

noun, Chemistry
1.
a chemical formula indicating the elements of a compound and their relative proportions, as (CH 2 O) n .
Compare molecular formula, structural formula.
Origin
1820-30
British Dictionary definitions for empirical formula

empirical formula

noun
1.
a chemical formula indicating the proportion of each element present in a molecule: C6H12O6 is the molecular formula of sucrose whereas CH2O is its empirical formula Compare molecular formula, structural formula
2.
a formula or expression obtained from experimental data rather than theory
empirical formula in Medicine

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

empirical formula in Science
empirical formula
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.