An empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms of each element in a compound. It provides essential information about the composition of the substance without detailing the actual number of atoms present. For example, the empirical formula for glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) is CH₂O, indicating that for every carbon atom, there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. To determine the empirical formula, one typically starts with the percentage composition of each element in the compound. By converting these percentages to moles and simplifying the ratios, the empirical formula can be derived. This formula is crucial in fields like chemistry and biochemistry for understanding molecular structures.