Edit page | Page history | Printable version

Formula

Origin: L, dim. Of forma form, model. SeeForm.

1. A prescribed or set form; an established rule; a fixed or conventional method in which anything is to be done, arranged, or said.

2. A written confession of faith; a formal statement of foctrines.

3. (Science: mathematics) a rule or principle expressed in algebraic language; as, the binominal formula.

4. (Science: medicine) a prescription or recipe for the preparation of a medicinal compound.

5. (Science: chemistry) a symbolic expression (by means of letters, figures, etc) of the constituents or constitution of a compound.

chemical formulae consist of the abbreviations of the names of the elements, with a small figure at the lower right hand, to denote the number of atoms of each element contained.

(Science: chemistry) empirical formula, a formula indicating the supposed molecular constitution of a compound.