Can more than one compound have the same empirical formula?

As a subject matter expert in chemistry, I can provide a comprehensive explanation on whether more than one compound can have the same empirical formula. The empirical formula of a compound is a representation of the simplest whole number ratio of atoms present in a compound. It is a way to generalize the composition of a compound without specifying the actual molecular structure or the number of molecules that make up a particular sample. To address the question, let's first understand what an empirical formula is and how it differs from a molecular formula. The molecular formula provides the exact number of each type of atom in a molecule of a compound, while the empirical formula gives the simplest ratio of the atoms present. For instance, if you have a compound with a molecular formula of C3H6, the empirical formula would be CH2, which is the simplest whole number ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms. Now, the key point here is that empirical formulas are not unique to a single compound. It is entirely possible for more than one compound to have the same empirical formula but different molecular formulas. This is because the empirical formula does not account for the total number of atoms or the specific arrangement of atoms within the molecule, which can lead to different compounds with the same elemental composition. Let's consider the example provided: Ethylene (C2H4) has an empirical formula of CH2. However, there are other compounds with the same empirical formula of CH2 but with different molecular formulas. For example, acetylene (C2H2) also has an empirical formula of CH2, yet it is a distinct compound from ethylene. The difference in molecular structure leads to different physical and chemical properties, such as boiling points, as mentioned. Another example is benzene (C6H6) and ethylbenzene (C8H10). Both have the same empirical formula of CH, but they are different compounds with different molecular formulas. Benzene has a ring structure with three double bonds, while ethylbenzene has a linear structure with a methyl group attached to a benzene ring. The fact that different compounds can share the same empirical formula is particularly relevant in organic chemistry, where isomers exist. Isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulas. Some isomers may have the same empirical formula, further illustrating the point that empirical formulas do not uniquely identify a compound. In summary, the empirical formula is a useful tool for simplifying the representation of a compound's composition, but it does not provide enough information to distinguish between different compounds with the same elemental composition. It is the molecular formula, along with the structural formula, that provides a complete description of a compound's identity.

One molecule of ethylene (molecular formula C2H4) contains two atoms of carbon and four atoms of hydrogen. Its empirical formula is CH2. Both have the same empirical formula, yet they are different compounds with different molecular formulas. ... That they are different compounds is shown by their different boiling points.