Chemical Formulae and Equations

Relative Mass

The relative mass of an object is the comparison of the mass of the object to the mass of a
standard object.

Relative Atomic Mass

The relative atomic mass (Ar) of an element is the average mass of one atom of the element
when compared with 1/12 of the mass of an atom of carbon-12, which taken as 12 units.

Relative Atomic Mass

1. The mass of an atom when compared to another is known as the relative atomic mass
(Ar).
2. The relative atomic mass (Ar) of an element is the average mass of one atom of the
element when compared with  1/12 of the mass of an atom of carbon-12, which taken as
12 units.
3. 1/12 of the mass of an atom of carbon-12 is named as 1 atomic mass unit (amu).
4. The mass of one carbon atom is 12 amu.
5. 1/12 of the mass of an atom of carbon-12 is named as 1 atomic mass unit (amu).
6. The mass of one carbon atom is 12 amu.

Example 1
The mass of a sodium atom is 23 times greater than 1/12 of the mass of carbon-12 atom. What is
the relative atomic mass of sodium?

Answer:
23
Example 2:
The mass of element A is twice of the mass of carbon, therefore its relative atomic mass is
__________. (Relative atomic mass of carbon = 12)

Answer:
 Relative Atomic Mass of Element A = 2 x 12 = 24

Example 3:
An atom of element X is 13 times heavier than one atom of helium. Calculate the relative atomic
mass of X.( Ar: He = 4 )

Answer:
Relative Atomic Mass of X = 13 x 4 = 52

Example 4:
How many times that the mass of 2 bromine atoms are greater than 4 neon atoms? (Ar: Ne = 20;
Br = 80 )

Answer:

2(80)4(20)=2

The mass of 2 bromine atoms is 2 time greater than the mass of

4 neon atoms.

Example 5
4 atoms of element L have same mass as 1 tellurium atom. Find the relative atomic mass of L.
(Ar: Te = 128 )

Answer:
4L=1(128)L=1284=32

The relative atomic mass of L = 32

Relative Molecular Mass

The relative molecular mass (Mr) of an element is the average mass of one molecule of the
element/compound when compared with   of the mass of an atom of carbon-12, which taken as
12 units.
The relative molecular mass of a molecule is equal to the sum of the relative atomic mass of all
the atoms in the molecule.

Example
Find the relative molecular mass of carbon dioxide.
[ JAR: C = 12; O = 16 ]

Answer:

The formula of carbon dioxide = CO2

Relative molecular mass of CO2 = 1 x 12 + 2 x 16 = 44

Example
What is the relative molecular mass of  aluminium sulphate [ Al2(SO4)3]?
( Ar: O = 16, S = 32; Al = 27 )
Answer:

Relative molecular mass of Al2(SO4)3 = 2 x 27 + 3( 32 + 4 x 16)

= 342

Relative Molecular Mass - Example 1

Question:
Given that the formula of a compound is KXO3 and its relative molecular mass is 167. Find the
relative atomic mass of element X? (Ar: O = 16; K = 39 )

Answer
Let's say the relative atomic mass of element X = m

The relative moleculaar mass of  KXO3 

= 39 + m + 3(16) = 167
m = 167 - 39 - 3(16) = 80
relative atomic mass of element X = 80

Relative Molecular Mass - Example 2

Question:
The general formula of a hydrocarbon is CnH2n and the relative molecular mass of the
hydrocarbon is 84. Find the value of n.

Answer:

Relative molecular mass of CnH2n 

= n(12) + 2n(1) = 84
14n = 84
n = 84/14 = 6

Concept of Mole

1. A mole is defined as the amount of substance which contains the Avogadro Number of
particles.
2. The Avogadro Number (or Avogadro Constant) is defined as the number of atoms in 12 g
of the carbon-12 isotope, which is equal to 6.02 x 1023.

1 mole = 6.02 x 1023

Example:
1 mol of atoms = 6.02 x 1023 atoms
½ mol of atoms = 3.01 x 1023 atoms
¼ mol of atoms = 1.505 x 1023 atoms.

Note:
The particles in a material can be atoms, molecules or ions.
Therefore
1 mol potassium atom = 6.02 x 1023 potassium atom
1 mol carbon dioxide molecules = 6.02 x 1023 of carbon dioxide molecules.
1 mol sulphate ions = 6.02 x 1023 sulphate ions.

Example:
Find the number of atoms in:
a. 2 mol ferum 
 b. 3.6 mol zink 
c. 2.8 mol zink 
d. ¼ mol ferum 

Answer:
a. 2 mol iron = 2 x 6.02 x 1023 = 1.204 x 1024  iron atoms
b. 3.6 mol zink =   3.6 x 6.02 x 1023 = 2.167 x 1024  zink atoms
c. 2.8 mol zink = 2.8 x 6.02 x 1023 = 1.686 x 1024 zink atoms
d. ¼ mol iron = ¼ x 6.02 x 1023 = 1.505 x 1023  iron atoms.

Mole and mol

1. Mole is the unit of amount of substance.

2. “mol” is the symbol of mole.

Number of Mole of Atoms and Number of Mole of Molecules

1. All molecules contain more than one atom.

2. For example, in a carbon dioxide molecule (CO2), there are 3 atoms - 1 carbon atom and
2 oxygen atoms.
3. Therefore, in 5 carbon dioxide molecules, there will be 15 atoms  - 5 carbon atom and 10
oxygen atoms.
4. Similarly,  in 1 mole carbon dioxide molecules, there will be 3 mole atoms  - 1 mole
carbon atoms and 2 mole oxygen atoms, and in 3 mole carbon dioxide molecules, there
will be 9 mole atoms  - 3 mole carbon atoms and 6 mole oxygen atoms, so on and so
forth.

Example:
a. How many hydrogen molecules can be made with 20 mol of hydrogen atoms?
b. How many hydrogen atoms are there in 20 mol of hydrogen molecules?

Answer:
a. 
Each hydrogen molecules (H2) consist of 2 hydrogen atoms.
Therefore, 20 mol of hydrogen atoms can make 10 mole of
hydrogen molecules.

b. Number of mole of hydrogen atoms in 20 mole of hydrogen

molecules
= 2 x 20 mole = 40 mole.
Example:
a. Find the number of carbon atom in 0.75 mol of carbon dioxide.
b. Find the number of oxygen atom in 0.75 mol of carbon dioxide.

Answer:
a. 
Each carbon dioxide molecules (CO2) consist of 1 carbon atom
and 2 oxygen molecules.
Therefore, 0.75 mole of carbon dioxide contain 0.75 mole
carbon atoms.

b.
Number of mole of oxygen atoms in 0.75 mole of carbon
dioxide
= 2 x 0.75 mole = 1.50 moles.

1. All molecules contain more than one atom.

2. For example, in a carbon dioxide molecule (CO2), there are 3 atoms - 1 carbon atom and
2 oxygen atoms.
3. Therefore, in 5 carbon dioxide molecules, there will be 15 atoms  - 5 carbon atom and 10
oxygen atoms.
4. Similarly,  in 1 mole carbon dioxide molecules, there will be 3 mole atoms  - 1 mole
carbon atoms and 2 mole oxygen atoms, and in 3 mole carbon dioxide molecules, there
will be 9 mole atoms  - 3 mole carbon atoms and 6 mole oxygen atoms, so on and so
forth.

Example:
a. How many hydrogen molecules can be made with 20 mol of hydrogen atoms?
b. How many hydrogen atoms are there in 20 mol of hydrogen molecules?
Answer:
a. 
Each hydrogen molecules (H2) consist of 2 hydrogen atoms.
Therefore, 20 mol of hydrogen atoms can make 10 mole of
hydrogen molecules.

b. Number of mole of hydrogen atoms in 20 mole of hydrogen

molecules
= 2 x 20 mole = 40 mole.
Example:
a. Find the number of carbon atom in 0.75 mol of carbon dioxide.
b. Find the number of oxygen atom in 0.75 mol of carbon dioxide.

Answer:
a. 
Each carbon dioxide molecules (CO2) consist of 1 carbon atom
and 2 oxygen molecules.
Therefore, 0.75 mole of carbon dioxide contain 0.75 mole
carbon atoms.

b.
Number of mole of oxygen atoms in 0.75 mole of carbon
dioxide
= 2 x 0.75 mole = 1.50 moles.

Molar Mass
1. The mass of one mole of atoms is its relative atomic mass in grams, and is called a molar
mass.
2. A Molar mass is the mass of a substance containing the Avogadro Constant of particles.

Element Relative atomic mass Mass of

Hydrogen 1
Carbon 12
 Oxygen 16
Copper 64
Iron 56

Example
1. The relative atomic mass of copper is 64, therefore the mass of 1 mole copper is 64g
2. The RAM of sodium is 23, therefore the mass of 2 mole sodium is 46g
3. The RAM of nitrogen is 14, therefore the mass of 2.5 mole l nitrogen is 35g
4. The RAM of calcium is 20, therefore the mass of 0.3 mole calcium is 6g

Conclusion

Note:
The relationship between the mass of a substance and the number of mole of the particles in the
substance can be summarised by using the following equation:

n=mMolar Mass

If you are given the mass of substance and asked to find the number of mole of the substance (or
vice versa), the problem can be solved by using this equation.

Example:
Find the number of mol of atoms in 4.6g sodium [Relative atomic mass: Na=23]

Answer:
Number of mole,
n=4.623=0.2mol

Example
How many moles of each substance are there in 191 g NaOH [Relative atomic mass: Na=23,
O=16, H=1]

Answer:
Relative Formula Mass of NaOH = 23 + 16 + 1 = 40
Number of mole of 191g NaOH,
n=19140=4.775mol

Example 1 - Number of Mole and Mass of a Substance

Question
What is the mass of 7.12 mol NaI. [Relative atomic gas: Iodine = 131; Sodium = 23]

Answer:

The relative formula mass of NaI = 23 + 131 = 154.

The mass of 7.12 mol NaI

= Number of mole x Relative Foemula Mass of NaI
= 7.12 x 154
= 1096.48g

Mass of Substance and Number of Particles

1. Sometime, you may be given the mass of a substance, and asked to find the number of
particles (or vice versa). 
2. To solve the problem, we must find the number of mole of the substance then only we
can find the number of particles (or mass of the substance).

Example:
How many molecules are there in 16 g of oxygen (O2)? [ Ar: O =.16, Avogadro Number = 6 x
1023]

Answer:
The relative molecular mass of  O2 = 2(16) = 32

Number of mole of oxygen molecules=Mass of oxygenMolar mass of oxygen=16 g32g mol−1=0.5 mol

Example 1 - Mass of Substance and Number of Particles

Question:
Find the number of atoms in 34g of ammonia gas (NH3). [Relative atomic mass: Nitrogen: 14;
Hydrogen: 1]

Answer:
Relative molecular mass of NH3
= 14 + 3(1)
= 17

Number of mole of ammonia =3417=2 mole

Number of  NH3 molecules = 2 x 6.02 x 1023 = 1.204 x 1024

Each NH3 molecule contain 4 atoms (1 nitrogen atom and 3

hydrogen atoms).

Therefore, number of atoms

= 4 x 1.204 x 1024
= 4.816 x 1024

Example 2 - Mass of Substance and Number of Particles

Find the mass of methane (CH4) that contain  1.806 x 1023 of methane molecules. [Relative
atomic mass: Carbon: 12; Hydrogen: 1]

Answer:
The relative molecular mass of CH4
= 12 + 4(1)
= 16

Number of mole of CH4=1.806×10236.02×1023=0.3 mole

Mass of CH4
 = Number of mole x molar mass 
= 0.3 x 16 = 4.8g

Number of Mole and Volume of Gas

Molar Volume of Gas

1. Equal amount of gas occupies same volume of space.

2. Molar volume of a gas is defined as the volume occupied by one mol the gas at certain
condition
3. At room temperature(25ºC) and pressure (1 atm), one mole of any gas occupies a volume
of 24 dm³ (24 000 cm³ )
4. At standard temperature(0ºC) and pressure (1 atm) one mole of any gas occupies a
volume of 22.4 dm³ (22400cm³).

Number of mole of gasses Volume at s.t.p. (dm3)

1 mol of O2 gas  1 x 22.4 = 22.4
1 mol of H2 gas  1 x 22.4 = 22.4
2 mol of He gas  2 x 22.4 = 44.8
3.5 mol of N2 gas  3.5 x 22.4 = 78.4
 Number of mole of gasses Volume at r.t.p. (dm3)
1 mol of O2  gas  1 x 24 = 24
1 mol of H2 gas  1 x 24 = 24
2 mol of He gas  2 x 24 = 48
3.5 mol of N2 gas  3.5 x 24 = 84

Example:
What volume (at room temperature and pressure r.t.p.) would 2 moles of oxygen gas occupy?
(Molar Gas Volume at r.t.p. = 24 dm³)

Answer:
Volume of gas = 2 x 24 = 48 dm³

Example:
A sample of ozone gas has a volume of 960cm³ at room temperature and pressure. Find the
number of mole of the ozone. [Molar volume at r.t.p. = 24.0dm³]

Answer:

Number of mole=960cm324000cm3=0.04 mol

Volume of Gas, Mass of Substance and Number of Particles

Figure below shows the relationship between the number of mole of particles in a substance with
the mass, number of particles and volume of gas.
Example

Find the number of particle in 1200cm³ of nitrogen gas at room temperature. (Molar Gas Volume
at r.t.p. = 24 dm³)

Answer:

Number of mole of nitrogen gas=1200 cm324000 cm3=0.05 mol

Number of nitrogen molecules= 0.05 mol × 6.02 × 1023= 
3.01 × 1022

Example 1 - Volume of Gas, Mass of Substance and Number of Particles

Question:
A container contains 3.913 x 1023 methane molecules. What is the volume of the methane gas at
r.t.p.? [Avogrado constant = 6.02 x 1023; Molar volume of gasses at r.t.p. = 24,000 cm3/mol]

Answer:

Number of mole of methane gas, n=3.913 × 10236.02×1023=0.6
5 molVolume of gas=0.65×24000 cm3=15600 cm3

Example 2 - Volume of Gas, Mass of Substance and Number of Particles

Question:
A gas jar containing 200cm³ of oxygen gas at s.t.p. Find the mass of the oxygen gas. [Relative
atomic mass: Oxygen = 16; Molar volume of gas at s.t.p. = 22.4 dm³]

Answer:

Number of mole of oxygen
gas, n=200 cm322400 cm3=1112 molRelative molecular mass of 
oxygen = 2×16=32Mass of oxygen=1112 ×32 gmol−1=0.2
86g
 Chemical Formulae

1. Each element is represented by its own chemical symbol.

2. In an element, the chemical formula represents the atoms in the molecule.
3. The chemical formula tells us:
a. the types of atoms or ions in the compound,
b. the number of atoms or ions in the compound,
4. For example, the chemical formula for ethene is C2H4. This shows that ethene is the result
of the combination of the elements carbon and hydrogen, and there are 2 carbon atoms
and 4 hydrogen atoms in each molecule of ethene.
5. Generally, chemical formula can be divided into
a. Empirical formula
b. Molecular formula
6. The empirical formula of a substance is the chemical formula that gives the simplest
whole-number ratio of atoms of each element in the substance.
7. The molecular formula of a substance is the chemical formula that gives the actual
number of atoms of each element in the substance.

Empirical Formula

1. The empirical formula of a substance is the chemical formula that gives the simplest
whole-number ratio of atoms of each element in the substance.
2. Empirical = information gained by means of observation, experience, or experiment.

Example:
emical Substances Molecular Formula Empirical Formula
Glucose C6H12O6 CH2O
Water H2O H2O
Carbon Dioxide CO2 CO2
Benzene C6H6 CH
Butane C4H8 CH2
Finding Empirical Formula

Steps to determine the empirical formula of a compound

STEP 1: Find the mass
STEP 2: Find the mole
STEP 3: Find the simplest ratio

Example:
In a chemical reaction, 4.23g of iron reacts completely with 1.80g of oxygen gas, producing iron
oxide. Calculate the empirical formula of iron oxide. [Relative atomic mass: Iron = 56; Oxygen =
16]

Answer:

Element Fe O
Mass  4.23g  1.80g
Number of 4.2356=0.075 1.8016=0.1125
mole 5
Simple ratio 0.07550.0755=1 0.11250.0755=1.
5
Ratio in 2 3
round
number

The empirical formula of iron oxide = Fe2O3

Example 1 - Empirical Formula

Determine the empirical formula of a compound which has a

percentage of composition Mg: 20.2%, S: 26.6%, O: 53.2%.
[Relative atomic mass: Mg = 24; S = 32; O = 16]

Answer
Element Mg S O
Percentage 20.2% 26.6% 53.2%
Mass in 100g 20.2g 26.6g 53.2g
Number of mole 20.224=0.8417mol 26.632=0.8313mol 53.216=3.325mol
Simple ratio 0.84170.8313=1 0.83130.8313=1 3.3250.8313=4

The empirical formula of the compound is MgSO4 

Example 2 - Empirical Formula

From an experiment, a scientist found that a hydrocarbon contains 85.7% of carbon according to
its mass. Find the empirical formula of the hydrocarbon. [Relative atomic mass: Carbon = 12;
Hydrogen = 1]

Answer:

Element C H
Percentage 85.7% 14.3%
Mass in 100g 85.7g 14.3g
Number of mole 85.712=7.142mol 14.31=14.3mol
Simple ratio 7.1427.142=1 14.37.142=2

The empirical formula of the hydrocarbon = CH2

Molecular Formula

1. The molecular formula of a substance is the chemical formula that gives the actual
number of atoms of each element in the substance.
2. A molecular formula is the same as or a multiple of the empirical formula. 
3. For example, the empirical of carbon dioxide is CO2 and the molecular formula is
also CO2.
4. Whereas, the empirical formula of ethane is CH3 while the molecular formula of ethane
is C2H6.

Finding Molecular Formula 

Example
Given that the empirical formula of benzene is CH and its relative molecular mass is 78. Find the
molecular formula of benzene. [Relative Atomic Mass: Carbon: 12; Hydrogen: 1]

Answer:
Let's say the molecular formula of benzene is CnHn.

The relative molecular mass of CnHn

= n(12) + n(1)
= 13n

13n = 78
n = 78/13 = 6

Therefore, the molecular formula of benzene

= C6H6

Example 2 - Molecular Formula

What is the mass of metal X that can combine with 14.4g of oxygen to form X oxide with
molecular formula X2O3. (RAM: O = 16; X = 56 )

Answer:

Number of mole of oxygen=14.416=0.9 molFrom the molecular formula, we learn
that the ratio of element X to oxygenX:O = 2:3Therefore, the number of mole of X=0.
9×23=0.6 molNumber of mole, n = massMolar mass0.6=mass56*mass=33.6gThe mass of ele
ment X = 33.6g*Molar mass of a substance= Relative atomic mass of the substance

Percentage of Composition of a Compound

1. To find the percentage of composition of a substance means to find the percentage of

mass of each element in the molecule of the substance to the mass of the molecule.
2. The percentage of mass of an element can be determined by the following equation:

Percentage of mass of an element=Sum of the Relative Atomic Mass of the Element Relative Molecular Ma
ss of the substance×100%
Example
Calculate the percentage of composition of DDT (C14H9Cl5). [Relative atomic mass: Carbon =
14; Hydrogen = 1; Chlorine = 35.5]

Answer:

Relative molecular mass of DDT=14(12)+9(1)+5(35.5)
=354.5

Percentage of carbon=14(12)354.5×100%=47.4%

Percentage of hydrogen=9(1)354.5×100%=2.5%

Percentage of chlorine=5(35.5)354.5×100%=50.0%

Formula of Ions

1. Ionic compounds made up of positive ions and negative ions.

2. To write the formula of an ionic compound, we need to know the symbol and charge of the ions
in the compound.

Positive ions that you need to know in SPM form 4 chemistry:

Ion Symbol Ion Symbol Ion Symbol

Potassium
K+ Calcium
Ca2+ Aluminium
Al3+
Sodium
Na+ Magnesium
Mg2+ Iron (III)
Fe3+
Lithium
Li+ Zinc
Zn2+
Hydrogen
H+ Barium
Ba2+
Argentums(I)
Ag+ Iron (II)
Fe2+
Mercury(I)
Hg+ Tin (II)
Sn2+
Ammonium
NH4+ Lead(II)
Pb2+
Copper(II)
Cu2+
Manganese(II)
Mn2+

Negative ions that you need to know in SPM form 4 Chemistry

Sulphate Carbonate Nitrate Hydroxide

SO42- CO32- NO3- OH-

Chloride Bromide Iodide Oxide

Fluoride

F- Cl- Br- I- O2-

Negative ions that you need to know in SPM form 5 Chemistry

Phosphate Ethanoat Manganate(VII) Dichromate(VI) Thiosulphate

PO43- CH3COO- MnO4- Cr2O72- S2O32-

Chemical Formula of Ionic Compounds

Requirements to form the formula of an ionic compound

1. Have at least 2 types of ions that contain opposite charge.
2. The amount of positive charge/charges must be equal to the amount of negative
charge/charges in the compound.
Example 1 – If the Charge of the Positive Ions = Charge of Negative Ions
Write the formula of each of the following compound
a. Potassium bromide
b. Sodium chloride

Answer:
a. Potassium bromide

b. Sodium chloride

Example 2 – If the Charge of the Positive Ions ≠ Charge of Negative Ions

Write the formula of each of the following compound
a. Calcium iodide
b. Sodium oxide

Answer:
a. Calcium iodide

b. Sodium oxide
Example 3 – If there is more than 1 element in the ion
Write the formula of each of the compound
a. Ammonium sulphate
b. Zinc nitrate

Answer:
a. Ammonium sulphate

b. Zinc nitrate

Example 4 – Formulae of Acid

Write the formula of the following acid
a. Hydrochloric acid
b. Sulphuric acid
c. Nitric acid
d. Ethanoic acid
e. Phosphoric acid
f. Carbonic acid

Answer:
a. Hydrochloric acid

b. Sulphuric acid
c. Nitric acid

d. Ethanoic acid

e. Phosphoric acid

f. Carbonic acid

Formula of Molecule

In SPM, you need to know the formulae of the following molecules

Fluorine  F2 Hydrogen chloride  HCl
Chlorine  Cl2 Hydrogen bromide  HBr
Bromine  Br2 Hydrogen iodide  HI
Iodine  I2 Nitric oxide  NO
Carbon dioxide  CO2 Nitrogen dioxide  NO2
water  H2O Nitrous oxide  N2O
Ammonia  NH3 Tetrachloromethane  CCl4
Sulphur trioxide  SO3 Hydrogen sulphide  H2F
Sulphur dioxide  SO2 Glucose  C6H12O62

Chemical Equation

Writing Chemical Equations

A Balance Equation
According to the Law of Conservation of Mass, atoms cannot be created or eliminated in the process of
chemistry reaction. Therefore, the amount of atom of each element before reaction must be equal after
reaction.

Example:
Balance the following chemical equations:
a. Mg +    O2 →    MgO
b. CuO + H2 →    Cu + H2O

c. Na +    H2O →    NaOH + H2

d. Li +    Cl2 →    LiCl

Answer:
a.

2Mg +    O2 →    2MgO

b.
 CuO + H2 →    Cu + H2O

c.

2Na +    2H2O →    2NaOH + H2

d.

2Li +    Cl2 →    2LiCl

Writing a Balance Equation

Example:
Lead(II) nitrate aqueous react with potassium iodide aqueous to produce lead(II) iodide precipitate and
potassium nitrate aqueous.

Answer: