Chemistry – Stoichiometry - Formulae | e-Consult

The statement that the molecular formula of glucose is C₆H₁₂O₆ means that each molecule of glucose contains six carbon atoms, twelve hydrogen atoms, and six oxygen atoms. This is the exact composition of a glucose molecule.

The empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a compound. The molecular formula represents the actual number of atoms of each element in a single molecule of the compound. Therefore, the molecular formula is a whole-number multiple of the empirical formula. In the case of glucose, the empirical formula is CH₂O, and the molecular formula is C₆H₁₂O₆, which is 2 times the empirical formula.