2. (Eccl.) A written confession of faith; a formal statement
of foctrines.
3. (Math.) A rule or principle expressed in algebraic
language; as, the binominal formula.
4. (Med.) A prescription or recipe for the preparation of a
medicinal compound.
5. (Chem.) A symbolic expression (by means of letters,
figures, etc.) of the constituents or constitution of a
compound.
Note: Chemical formul[ae] 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.
{Empirical formula} (Chem.), an expression which gives the
simple proportion of the constituents; as, the empirical
formula of acetic acid is {C2H4O2}.
{Graphic formula}, {Rational formula} (Chem.), an expression
of the constitution, and in a limited sense of the
structure, of a compound, by the grouping of its atoms or
radicals; as, a rational formula of acetic acid is
{CH3.(C:O).OH}; -- called also {structural formula},
{constitutional formula}, etc. See also the formula of
{Benzene nucleus}, under {Benzene}.
{Molecular formula} (Chem.), a formula indicating the
supposed molecular constitution of a compound.