Empirical and Molecular Percent Composition Percent Composition

Formulas Consider some of the family of nitrogen- Consider some of the family of nitrogen-
oxygen compounds: oxygen compounds:
A pure compound always consists of the NO2, nitrogen dioxide and closely NO2, nitrogen dioxide and closely
same elements combined in the same related, NO, nitrogen monoxide (or related, NO, nitrogen monoxide (or
proportions by weight. nitric oxide) nitric oxide)
Therefore, we can express molecular
composition as PERCENT BY
WEIGHT
Ethanol, C2H6O
52.13% C
Structure of NO2 Structure of NO2
13.15% H
Chemistry of NO,
34.72% O
nitrogen monoxide

A compound of B and H is 81.10% B. What is its

Percent Composition Determining Formulas empirical formula?

Consider NO2, Molar mass = ? • Because it contains only B and H, it

In chemical analysis we determine the % by must contain 18.90% H.
What is the weight percent of N and of weight of each element in a given amount of
O? pure compound and derive the • In 100.0 g of the compound there are
14.0 g N EMPIRICAL or SIMPLEST formula. 81.10 g of B and 18.90 g of H.
Wt. % N = • 100% = 30.4 %
46.0 g NO 2
• Calculate the number of moles of each
Wt. % O = 2 (16.0 g O per mole) x 100% = 69.6% PROBLEM : A compound of B and H is constitutent.
constitutent.
46.0 g 81.10% B. What is its empirical
formula?
What are the weight percentages of
N and O in NO?

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A compound of B and H is 81.10% B. What is its A compound of B and H is 81.10% B. What is its A compound of B and H is 81.10% B. What is its
empirical formula? empirical formula? empirical formula?

Now, recognize that atoms combine in Take the ratio of moles of B and H. Always
Calculate the number of moles of each
element in 100.0 g of sample. the ratio of small whole numbers. divide by the smaller number.
1 mol 1 atom B + 3 atoms H --> 1 molecule BH 3
81.10 g B • = 7.502 mol B 18.75 mol H 2.499 mol H 2.5 mol H
or = =
10.81 g 7.502 mol B 1.000 mol B 1.0 mol B
1 mol B atoms + 3 mol H atoms --->
But we need a whole number ratio.
1 mol 1 mol BH 3 molecules
18.90 g H • = 18.75 mol H 2.5 mol H/1.0 mol B = 5 mol H to 2 mol B
1.008 g Find the ratio of moles of elements in the
compound. EMPIRICAL FORMULA = B 2H5

A compound of B and H is 81.10% B. A compound of B and H is 81.10% B. Its empirical Determine

Determine the
the formula
formula of of aa
Its empirical formula is B2H5. What is formula is B2H 5. What is its molecular formula? compound
compound of of Sn
Sn and
and II using
using the
the
its molecular formula? We need to do an EXPERIMENT to find following
following data.
data.
Is the molecular formula B 2H5, B4H 10, the MOLAR MASS.
B6H15, B8 H20, etc.? Here experiment gives 53.3 g/ mol • Reaction of Sn and I2 is done using
excess Sn.
Sn.
Compare with the mass of B 2H5
B2H6 • Mass of Sn in the beginning = 1.056 g
= 26.66 g/unit • Mass of iodine (I2 ) used
Find the ratio of these masses. = 1.947 g
53.3 g/mol 2 units of B2H5 • Mass of Sn remaining
=
26.66 g/unit of B2H5 1 mol = 0.601 g
• See p. 133
B2H6 is one example of this class of compounds. Molecular formula = B 4H10

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 Tin and Iodine Compound Tin and Iodine Compound Tin and Iodine Compound
Find the mass of Sn that combined with Now find the number of moles of I 2 that Now find the ratio of number of moles of
1.947 g I2. combined with 3.83 x 10 -3 mol Sn.
Sn. Mass moles of I and Sn that combined.
Mass of Sn initially = 1.056 g of I2 used was 1.947 g.
1.534 x 10 -2 mol I 4.01 mol I
Mass of Sn recovered = 0.601 g 1 mol =
1.947 g I2 • = 7.671 x 10-3 mol I2 3.83 x 10-3 mol Sn 1.00 mol Sn
Mass of Sn used = 0.455 g 253.81 g
Find moles of Sn used:
This is equivalent to 2 x 7.671 x 10 -3
1 mol Empirical formula is SnI4
0.455 g Sn • = 3.83 x 10-3 mol Sn or 1.534 x 10-2 mol iodine atoms
118.7 g

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