CHEMICAL FORMULAE &

EQUATIONS
3.5 Chemical Formulae
3.5 Chemical Formulae

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. State the meaning of chemical formula.

2. State the meaning of empirical formula.
3. State the meaning of molecular formula.
4. Determine empirical & molecular formula of
substances.
5. Compare and contrast empirical formula with
molecular formula.
6. Solve numerical problems involving empirical &
molecular formula.
3.5 Chemical Formulae
Chemical
Formula

Empirical Molecular
Formula Formula

Calculation &
Determination

Numerical
Problems
3.5 Chemical Formulae
Chemical
Formula

Representation of a chemical substance using letters for

atoms and subscript numbers to show the numbers of
each type of atoms that are present in the substance.

CuSO4
Copper (II)
Sulphate
3.5 Chemical Formulae

Information
from chemical
formula

Calculate Mr or
All the elements Relative
present in the Formula Mass
compound Number of
atoms of each
element
3.5 Chemical Formulae

Formula that shows the

Empirical simplest whole number
Formula ratio of atoms of each
element in the compound

Elements X Y
Mass (g) or % of
element
No. of moles of atoms
Ratio of moles
Simplest ratio of moles
3.5 Chemical Formulae

Formula that shows the

actual number of atoms of Molecular
each element that are Formula
present in the compound

Molecular
= ( Empirical Formula )n
Formula