Gen Chem 1 #21 & 22

Topic: ATOMS, MOLECULES, AND IONS

OBJECTIVE:
1. Represent compounds using chemical formulas and structural formulas
2. Give the similarities and differences between molecular formula and empirical
formula of a compound

Chemical Formula
– The chemical formula consists of the symbols of the atoms making up the molecule.
If there is more than one atom present, a numerical subscript is used.
Examples are the following:
a. NaOH – sodium hydroxide (liquid Sosa)
b. HCl – hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid

If more present:than 1 atom

a. O2 – oxygen gas
b. H2O – water

Structural Formula
– a formula that shows the actual numbers of atoms, their relative placement, and bonds
between them.
Example: H2O - H–O–H.
H2O2 – H – O – O – H

Two types of chemical formula:

1. Molecular formula – give the composition of the molecule, in terms of
atoms present.
Example: C6 H12O6 , K3PO4
2. Empirical formula – gives the composition of the molecule in terms of the
smallest ratio of the number of atoms present.
Example: CH6O , K3PO4

The main difference between the molecular formula and empirical formula is that in empirical formula,
the ratio is at its smallest whole-number value while a molecular shows the actual number of atoms in
the substance
Example: molecular formula of dinitrogen tetroxide, N 2O4
Empirical formula is NO2
A. Application
Ways of representing a water molecule and a hydrogen peroxide molecule
WATER HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
Molecular Formula H2O H2O2
Empirical Formula H2O HO
Structural Formula H–O-H H–O–O–H
Write the molecular formula and empirical formula of the given compounds:
1. Acetylene, a gas used in welding torches. It has 2 carbon atoms and 2 hydrogen atoms in a
molecule.
2. Glucose, the sugar in the blood has 6 carbon atoms,12 hydrogen atoms, and 6 oxygen
atoms.
3. Naphthalene, the compound found in mothballs has 10 carbon atoms and eight hydrogen
atoms.
4. Benzene, a carbon compound that is used in polymers such as plastic, has 6 carbon atoms
and 6 hydrogen atoms in a molecule.
5. Ethylene, a plant hormone used in industries to ripen fruits has 2 carbon atoms and four
hydrogen atoms.