Chemical analysis of a substance can provide the composition by

mass of the compound.The empirical formula can then be calculated

from these data. In order to work out the molecular formula, the relative
molecular mass of the compound is also required.

Worked examples
1.10 A compound has the following composition by mass: C, 0.681g; H,0.137g; O,0.181g.
a Calculate the empirical formula of the compound.
b If the relative molecular mass of the compound is 88.17, calculate the molecular formula.

a This is most easily done by laying everything our in a table.

C H 0
mass/g 0.681 0.137 0.181
divide by relative atomic mass to give number of moles 0.681/12.01 0.137/1.01 0.181/16.00
number of moles/mol 0.0567 0.136 0.0113
divide by smallest to get ratio 0.0567/0.0113 0.136/0.0113 0.0113/0.0113
ratio 12 1

Therefore the empirical formula is C5H12O.

b The empirical formula mass of the compound is 88.17.This is the same as the relative molecular mass, and so
the molecular formula is the same as the empirical formula (C5H12O).

l.ll If a fluoride of uranium contains 67.62% uranium by mass, what is its empirical formula?

A uranium fluoride contains only uranium and fluorine.

%o fluorine: 100.00 - 67 .62= 32.38%o

It makes no difference here that the percentage composition is given instead of the mass of each element present,
as the percentage is the same as the mass present in 100g.

U F

percentage 67.62 32.38

mass in 1009/g 67.62 32.38
divide by relative atomic mass to give number of moles 67.62/238.03 32.38/19.00
number of moles 0.2841 1.704
divide by smallest to get ratio 0.2841/0.2841 1.704/0.2841
ratio 1 6

There are therefore six fluorine atoms for every uranium atom, and the empirical formula is UF6.