What does an empirical formula show about a compound?

1. A molecular formula gives the exact number of each type of atom in a molecule. 2. An empirical formula does not do that, it gives the simplest ratio of the atoms instead. 3. This is useful for network structures, which can contain millions of atoms in one lattice. 4. For carbon dioxide the two formulae look the same, because that formula is already the simplest ratio. _Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 10 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 12: The particles that substances are made of_