Date
Empirical and Molecular Formulae
Learning Objectives (LOs):
To understand what is meant by ‘empirical formula’ and ‘molecular formula’
To calculate empirical formula from data giving composition by mass or percentage
by mass
To calculate molecular formula from the empirical formula
and relative molecular mass.
DO NOW
R Keywords
1. Copy out the date and title, and
I don’t Empirical formula
understand Molecular formula keywords
2. RAG the LOs
A 10 minutes
3. Self assess your answers to your
Okay
h/w. Total Mark out of 20
4. Write down 2 things you have
G done well
Confident
5. Write down 1 target of
improvement
What is the Empirical Formula?
Container of water molecules
What is the Molecular Formula?
Molecular formula is the actual number of
atoms of each element in a compound
The molecular formula of ethane is C2H6
The empirical formula of ethane is CH3
How to calculate the empirical formula of
a compound
There are two styles of questions that will ask you to
calculate the empirical formula:
1) A question that states the masses of each element
in a compound
2) A question that states the percentages of each
element in a compound
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkpPPKZxe9o
Calculating the empirical formula when the masses
of each element in a compound are provided
Steps to complete calculating the empirical formula when the
masses of each element in a compound are provided:
1. Calculate the number of moles of each element that makes up
the compound. (This is calculated using mol = mass/Ar).
2. Divide the mole values of each element by the smallest number
to determine a whole number ratio
3. If whole numbers have not been achieved after step 2, then
multiply the mole values by a particular number to get a whole
number ratio
4. Write out the empirical formulae taking into account the ratio of
the atoms of each element that you have just calculated
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the masses of each
element in a compound are provided
Question: 10.01 g of a white solid contains 4.01 g of
calcium, 1.20 g of carbon and 4.80 g oxygen. What is
the empirical formula?
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the masses of each
element in a compound are provided
Question: 10.01 g of a white solid contains 4.01 g of
calcium, 1.20 g of carbon and 4.80 g oxygen. What is
the empirical formula?
Answer: Step 1
Element Ca : C: O Calculate the
number of moles
Mols 4.01/40.1 : 1.20/12 : 4.80/16 of each element
that makes up the
compound. (This
mol ratio 0.10 mol : 0.10 mol : 0.30 mol is calculated using
mol = mass/Ar).
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the masses of each
element in a compound are provided
Question: 10.01 g of a white solid contains 4.01 g of calcium, 1.20
g of carbon and 4.80 g oxygen. What is the empirical formula?
Answer:
Element Ca : C: O
mols (g/Ar) 4.01/40.1 : 1.20/12 : 4.80/16 Step 2
Divide the mole
values of each
mol ratio 0.10/0.10 : 0.10/0.10 : 0.30/0.10 element by the
smallest number
Whole to determine a
whole number
number 1 : 1 : 3 ratio
ratio
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the masses of each
element in a compound are provided
Question: 10.01 g of a white solid contains 4.01 g of calcium, 1.20
g of carbon and 4.80 g oxygen. What is the empirical formula?
Answer:
Element Ca : C: O
mols (g/Ar) 4.01/40.1 : 1.20/12 : 4.80/16 Step 3
Write out the
empirical
mol ratio 0.10/0.10 : 0.10/0.10 : 0.30/0.10 formulae taking
into account the
Whole ratio of the atoms
of each element
number 1 : 1 : 3 that you have just
ratio calculated
The empirical formula is therefore CaCO3
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the masses of each
element in a compound are provided
Question: Compound X contains 50.2 g sulfur and
50.0 g oxygen. What is the empirical formula?
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the masses of each
element in a compound are provided
Question: Compound X contains 50.2 g sulfur and
50.0 g oxygen. What is the empirical formula?
Answer:
Element S : O
Mols (mass/Ar) 50.2 /32.1 : 50.0/16.0
mol ratio 1.56 mol : 3.13 mol
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the masses of each
element in a compound are provided
Question: Compound X contains 50.2 g sulfur and
50.0 g oxygen. What is the empirical formula?
Answer: Step 2
Divide the mole
Element S : O values of each
Mols (mass/Ar) 50.2 /32.1 : 50.0/16.0 element by the
smallest number
to determine a
mol ratio 1.56 mol/1.56 : 3.13 mol/1.56 whole number
1: 2 ratio
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the masses of each
element in a compound are provided
Question: Compound X contains 50.2 g sulfur and
50.0 g oxygen. What is the empirical formula?
Answer:
Element S : O
Mols (mass/Ar) 50.2 /32.1 : 50.0/16.0 IMPORTANT
If one of the
mol ratio 1.56 mol/1.56 : 3.13 mol/1.56 numbers is VERY
CLOSE to a whole
1: 2.00641025 number, then
round up or down
1: 2 to the nearest
whole number
The empirical formula is therefore SO2
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the masses of each
element in a compound are provided
Question: Compound X contains 1.08 g Aluminium
and 0.96 g oxygen. What is the empirical formula?
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the masses of each
element in a compound are provided
Question: Compound X contains 1.08 g Aluminium
and 0.96 g oxygen. What is the empirical formula?
Answer:
Element Al : O
Mols (mass/Ar) 1.08/27.0 : 0.96/16.0
mol ratio 0.04 mol: 0.06 mol
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the masses of each
element in a compound are provided
Question: Compound X contains 1.08 g Aluminium
and 0.96 g oxygen. What is the empirical formula?
Answer:
Element Al : O
Mols (mass/Ar) 1.08/27.0 : 0.96/16.0
mol ratio 0.04 mol/0.04: 0.06 mol/0.04
1 : 1.5
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the masses of each
element in a compound are provided
Question: Compound X contains 1.08 g Aluminium
and 0.96 g oxygen. What is the empirical formula?
Answer:
Element Al : O
Mols (mass/Ar) 1.08/27.0 : 0.96/16.0 IMPORTANT
mol ratio 0.04 mol/0.04: 0.06 mol/0.04 If one of the
numbers has a
1 : 1.5 0.5 decimal
X2 then DON’T
ROUND UP
2 : 3 instead,
multiply both
The empirical formula is therefore Al2O3 numbers by 2
Your Turn!
3.888 g magnesium ribbon was burnt completely in
air and 6.444g of magnesium oxide were produced.
What is the empirical formula of magnesium oxide?
Magnesium + Oxygen Magnesium Oxide
Clue:
You need to work out the
mass of oxygen that has
reacted first before you
can calculate the
empirical formula
Your Turn!
3.888 g magnesium ribbon was burnt completely in
air and 6.444g of magnesium oxide were produced.
What is the empirical formula of magnesium oxide?
Magnesium + Oxygen Magnesium Oxide
Mass of oxygen = 6.444 g -3.888 g = 2.556 g
Mg : O
3.888 g/24.3 : 2.556g / 16
0.16 mol/0.1598 : 0.1598 mol/0.1598
1.001251564 : 1
1 : 1
The empirical formula is therefore MgO
How to calculate the empirical formula of
a compound
There are two styles of questions that will ask
you to calculate the empirical formula:
1) A question that states the masses of each
element in a compound ✔
2) A question that states the percentages of
each element in a compound
How to calculate the empirical formula of
a compound
There are two styles of questions that will ask
you to calculate the empirical formula:
1) A question that states the masses of each
element in a compound ✔
2) A question that states the percentages of
each element in a compound
Calculating the empirical formula when the
percentages of each element in a compound are
provided
Steps to complete calculating the empirical formula when the
percentages of each element in a compound are provided:
1. The percentage of each element = the mass . Therefore write out the
mass of each element
2. Calculate the number of moles of each element that makes up the
compound. (This is calculated using mol = mass/A r).
3. Divide the mole values of each element by the smallest number to
determine a whole number ratio
4. If whole numbers have not been achieved after step 2, then multiply
the mole values by a particular number to get a whole number ratio
5. Write out the empirical formulae taking into account the ratio of the
atoms of each element that you have just calculated
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the percentages of
each element in a compound are provided
An organic compound containing only carbon, hydrogen
and oxygen was found to have 52.17% carbon, 13.04%
hydrogen and 34.79% oxygen. Calculate the empirical
formula of this compound
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the percentages of
each element in a compound are provided
An organic compound containing only carbon, hydrogen
and oxygen was found to have 52.17% carbon, 13.04%
hydrogen and 34.79% oxygen. Calculate the empirical
formula of this compound
Since all the percentages add up to 100%. It is just like saying
100 g of this compound contains:
52.17 g carbon
13.04 g hydrogen
34.79 g oxygen
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the percentages of
each element in a compound are provided
An organic compound containing only carbon, hydrogen
and oxygen was found to have 52.17% carbon, 13.04%
hydrogen and 34.79% oxygen. Calculate the empirical
formula of this compound
Since all the percentages add up to 100%. It is just like saying
100 g of this compound contains: Step 1: Calculate the
moles of each element
52.17 g carbon
13.04 g hydrogen
34.79 g oxygen
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the percentages of
each element in a compound are provided
An organic compound containing only carbon, hydrogen
and oxygen was found to have 52.17% carbon, 13.04%
hydrogen and 34.79% oxygen. Calculate the empirical
formula of this compound
C : H : O
52.17/12 : 13.04/1 : 34.79/16
Step 1:
Complete this question to Calculate the
work out the empirical moles of each
formula: element
Worked Example:
Calculating empirical formula when the percentages of
each element in a compound are provided
An organic compound containing only carbon, hydrogen
and oxygen was found to have 52.17% carbon, 13.04%
hydrogen and 34.79% oxygen. Calculate the empirical
formula of this compound
C : H : O
52.17/12 : 13.04/1 : 34.79/16
4.348 /2.174 : 13.04/2.174 : 2.174/2.174
2 : 5.998160074 : 1
2 : 6 : 1
The empirical formula is therefore C2H6O
