Question

Fill in he blanks using the correct options:

The molecular formula of glucose is ______, while its impirical formula is ______. (CH₂O/C₆H₁₂O₆)

Answer 1

The molecular formula of glucose is C₆H₁₂O₆, while its impirical formula is CH₂O.

Explanation:

The molecular formula shows the actual number of atoms of each element in a glucose molecule: 6 carbon, 12 hydrogen, and 6 oxygen atoms. The empirical formula, on the other hand, represents the simplest whole-number ratio of these atoms. Dividing the molecular subscripts by their greatest common divisor (6) simplifies the C₆H₁₂O₆ ratio down to 1 : 2 : 1, resulting in CH₂O.