general formula


general formula

[¦jen·rəl ′fȯr·myə·lə] (chemistry) A formula that can apply not only to one specific compound but to a series of related compounds; for example, the general formula for an aldehyde RCHO, where R is hydrogen in formaldehyde (the simplest aldehyde) and is a hydrocarbon radical for other aldehydes in the series such as CH3 for acetaldehyde and C2H5 for proprionaldehyde.