THE INDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOL- COIMBATORE

STOICHIOMETRY

Empirical and molecular formula:

Empirical formula: Empirical formula shows the simplest ratio in which the
atoms in a compound are combined

Empirical formula for Hydrogen peroxide: HO

Molecular formula: Molecular formula shows the actual number of atoms

that combine to form a molecule.

Molecular formula for Hydrogen peroxide: H2O2

Empirical and molecular formula calculation:

Problem 1: In an experiment, 80g of Carbon combine with 20g of Hydrogen

to form a compound. What is the empirical formula?

Carbon Hydrogen

Mass: 80 20

Ar : 12 1

Moles: 80/12 20/1

6.67 20

Divide by
the 6.67/6.67 20/6.67
Least mole: 1 3

So the empirical formula of the compound is C1H3 or CH3

Molecular formula calculation:

Molecular formula: Molecular mass/Empirical mass

Problem 2: The formula mass of a compound was found to be 30. Its
empirical formula was found to be CH3. What is the molecular formula of the
compound?

Empirical mass: CH3 = (12+3)

= 15
Molecular formula: Molecular mass/Empirical mass
: 30/15
: 2
So multiply each atom in the empirical formula CH3 by 2.
So the molecular formula is C2H6.