Percent Composition

Empirical Formulas
 Percent Composition
• The percents of all elements in a compound
must equal 100.
• The percent by mass of each element in a
compound is called the percent composition
of a compound
 Percent Composition
• Determine the elements present in a compound
and their percent by mass.
• A 100g sample of a new compound contains 55g
of element X and 45g of element Y
• Percent by mass can be calculated using
Mass of element X 100 = percent by mass
Mass of compound
General Equation for Calculating % by mass

Mass of element in 1 mol compound X 100

Molar mass of compound
 Example
• What is the percent composition of water?
1. Hydrogen – 1.01 x 2 = 2.02 g H in water
Oxygen – 15.99 x 1 = 15.99 g O in water
Molar mass of water = 2.02 + 15.99 = 18.02 g/mol of H2O
2. % of Hydrogen 2.02 g H x 100 = 11.2 % H in Water
18.02 g H2O
% of Oxygen 15.99 g O x 100 = 88.8 % O in Water
18.02 g H2O
 Example Problem
• Determine the percent composition of Sodium
Hydrogen Carbonate (NaHCO3)
Na = 1* 22.99 g = 22.99 g Na
H = 1* 1.01 g = 1.01 g H
C = 1* 12.01 g = 12.01 g C
O = 3* 15.99 g = 47.97 g O
83.98 g/mol NaHCO3
 Example Problem Continued
Sodium 22.99 g Na x 100 = 27.4 % Na
83.98 g NaHCO3
Hydrogen 1.01 g H x 100 = 1.2 % H
83.98 g NaHCO3
Carbon 12.01 g C x 100 = 14.3 % C
83.98 g NaHCO3
Oxygen 47.97g O x 100 = 57.1 % O
83.98 g NaHCO3
 Practice
• Phosphoric acid (H3PO4) is a colorless, syrupy
liquid used in detergents, fertilizers,
toothpastes, and in carbonated beverages for
a “tangy” flavor. Calculate the percent
composition by mass of H, P, and O in this
compound.
 Empirical Formula
• If the % composition is given you can assume
the total mass of the compound is 100 grams
and that the percent by mass of each element
is equal to the mass of that element in grams
• The mass of each element can be converted to
moles by dividing the molar mass of the
element
• Empirical Formula: a formula which
has been reduced to the lowest
terms.

• Molecular formula: a formula of a

compound in which the subscripts
give the actual number of each
element in the formula
Here are the four formulas being used
as examples:
Molecular Empirical Notice two things:
Formula Formula 1. The molecular formula
and the empirical
H2O H2O
formula can be
identical.
C2H4O2 CH2O
2. You scale up from the
CH2O CH2O
empirical formula to
the molecular formula
by a whole number
C6H12O6 CH2O
factor.
 Why chemists use it?
• After a compound has been analyzed for
percent composition, the formula can
be calculated- the empirical formula. If
the actual weight of a single molecule is
known then the molecular formula can
be calculated as well.
 Example
• Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) cures scurvy. It is
composed of 40.92 percent carbon (C), 4.58
percent hydrogen (H), and 54.50 percent
oxygen (O) by mass. Determine its empirical
formula.
 How to Find Empirical Formulas

1. If given the percentages of each element, assume 100 grams

of the substance and convert % into grams.
2. Convert to moles by dividing the amount in grams by the
atomic mass of that element.
3. Select the SMALLEST value and divide ALL values by this
smallest one.
4. The results of Step 3 will either be VERY close to whole
numbers or will be recognizable mixed number fractions If
any result from Step 3 is a decimal mixed number, you must
multiply ALL values by some number to make it a whole
number. Ex: 1.33 x 3, 2.25 x 4, 2.50 x 2, etc.
 How to Find Empirical Formulas
5. Use these whole number results as
SUBSCRIPTS and write the empirical formula,
listing the elements in the order they are
given in the problem. (HINT: don’t be
surprised in the subscripts in some formulas
are VERY large-many organic molecules are
huge)
C3H4O3
 Example
• The percent composition of a sulfur oxide is
40.05 % S and 59.95 % O.
40.05 g S = 1.249 mol S
32.07 g/mol S
59.95 g O = 3.749 mol O
15.99 g/mol O
• How does 1.249 mol of S and 3.749 mol O
transfer into subscripts? They are not in whole
numbers.
• Divide the mole values by the value of the
element with the smallest number of moles.
• 1.249 mol S = 1 mol S
1.249
• 3.749 mol O = 3 mol O
1.249
• The simplest whole number mole ratio of S
atoms to O atoms is 1:3.
• The empirical formula for the oxide of sulfur is
SO3
• The calculated mole values may not always be
whole numbers
– In these cases all the mole values must be
multiplied by the smallest factor that will make
them whole numbers
•% to Mass
•Mass to Mole
•Divide by smallest
•Multiply until whole