Empirical Formula

Empirical formula: are the simplest formula a compound
  - shows the simplest ratios, not the actual atoms

EXAMPLE:

 this is the difference between an empirical formula and a molecule formula

- to determine the empirical formula we need to know the ratio of each element

- to determine the ratio we use this table to help us solve the problem:

ATOM   MASS(g)    MOLAR MASS   MOLES             MOLE                        RATIO

                                                               (g/mol)       SMALLEST MOLE

please refer to this link on how to solve empirical probblems:

http://video.about.com/chemistry/Empirical-Formula.htm 

Nicole H