Molecular Formula

The molecular formula is based on the actual makeup of the compound. Although the molecular formula can sometimes be the same as the empirical formula, molecular compounds tend to be more helpful. However, they do not describe how the atoms are put together. Molecular compounds are also misleading when dealing with isomers, which have the same number and types of atoms (see above in molecular geometry and structural formula).

Ex. Molecular Formula for Ethanol: C₂H₆O.