What is the difference between #"formula unit"# and #"empirical formula"#?

Answer 1

A #"formula unit"# is in effect the #"empirical formula"#, and it is particularly used to describe non-molecular species.

And the #"empirical formula"# is the simplest whole number ratio that describes consitiuent atoms in a species.

Typically, we use #"formula unit"# when we describe the composition of non-molecular entities such as salts. Common salt, sodium chloride, is certainly not molecular. Its description by its formula unit as #NaCl# is unambiguous.

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Answer 2

Wyatt Atkins

The formula unit is the simplest whole number ratio of ions represented in an ionic compound, while the empirical formula represents the simplest whole number ratio of atoms in a covalent compound.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.