What type of formula represents the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of the elements in a compound?
(1) molecular formula
(2) condensed formula
(3) empirical formula
(4) structural formula

The answer is empirical formula. The empirical formula of a chemical compound is the unpretentious positive integer ratio of atoms current in a compound. A simple instance of this idea is that the empirical formula of sulfur monoxide, or SO, would just be SO, as is the empirical formula of disulfur dioxide, S2O2. Meaning that sulfur monoxide and disulfur dioxide, both combinations of sulfur and oxygen, will have the similar empirical formula.