What does the empirical formula represent?

The empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of elements in a compound. It provides a way to convey the relative proportions of the different elements without specifying the exact number of atoms in the molecule. For example, the empirical formula for glucose (C6H12O6) is CH2O, which reflects that for every carbon atom, there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, but it does not indicate the total number of each atom in the actual molecule. This distinction is crucial in chemical formulas, where understanding the relative composition of compounds helps in stoichiometry and reactions without needing to consider the complexities of molecular structure or exact counts of atoms.

In contrast, the other options either refer to specific characteristics such as the actual number of atoms, molecular mass, or geometric structure, which are not represented by the empirical formula.