PERCENT COMPOSITION

AND CHEMICAL
FORMULAS
Introduction
 *Determining the percentage composition of a compound is very
significant in chemistry.
 Millions of compounds exist, and it is up to the chemists to analyze
what elements do they contain.
 Through percentage composition, chemists are able to
determine how much elements a compound contains.
 Forexample, methane (CH4) is 75% carbon and 25% hydrogen.
The high amount of carbon of this compound explains how
much heat does it trap in the surface. Elemental analysis in
compounds is done by using a mass spectrometer. **
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 At the end of this lesson, the learners must be able to:

1. Calculate the percent composition of a compound from
its formula;
2. Calculate the empirical formula from the percent
composition of a compound; and
3. Calculate the molecular formula, given the molar mass.
 Mass Percentage Composition

 The amount of each element in a compound can also be

expressed in terms or percentage.
 Mass percentage composition is obtained by dividing the mass of
each element by the molar mass of the compound and
multiplying the quotient by 100 percent.

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 = × 100
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑
 Example 1
 The compound lithium carbonate, used as solvent for bladder
stones, has the formula Li2CO3. What is the mass percentage of
each element in the compound?
Solution:
Molar mass of Li2 CO3

Li = 2 x 6.94 = 13.88 𝐿𝑖 = × 100 = 𝟏𝟖. 𝟕𝟖%

C = 1 x 12.01 = 12.01 𝐶= × 100 = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟐𝟓%

O = 3 x 16.00 = 48.00 𝑂= × 100 = 𝟔𝟒. 𝟗𝟔%

73.89 g/mol
 Example 2
 The compound sodium thiosulfate, a photographic fixative, has
the formula Na2S2O3. What is the mass percentage of each
element in the compound?
Solution:
Molar mass of Na2S2O3

Na = 2 x 22.99 = 45.98 𝑁𝑎 = × 100 = 𝟐𝟗. 𝟎𝟖%

S = 2 x 32.07 = 64.14 𝑆= × 100 = 𝟒𝟎. 𝟓𝟔%

O = 3 x 16.00 = 48.00 𝑂= × 100 = 𝟑𝟎. 𝟑𝟔%

158.12 g/mol
Empirical and Molecular Formulas

 Empirical formula gives the relative ratio

between the numbers of atoms of the different
elements present, while the molecular formula
shows the exact number of atoms of each
element per molecule.
 These two formulas can be derived from the
given mass percentage of each element in the
compound as shown in the examples that
follow.
 Example 3
 Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) is a compound
used as a gasoline supplement and octane rating booster. What is the
empirical formula of MMT if it is 49.5% C, 3.2% H, 22.0% 0, and 25.2% Mn?
Solution:
1. Convert the % of each element to mass, using 100 g compound as basis.
Given that % means per 100 g compound, the mass of the element in the
compound is numerically equal to the given %.

mass C = 49.5 g mass O = 22.0 g

mass H = 3.2 g mass Mn = 25.2 g
 Cont. Example 3
2. Convert the mass to number of moles of
atoms, using atomic mass.
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝐶 = 49.5 𝑔 𝐶 × 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶 = 4.13 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶
12.0 𝑔 𝐶
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝐻 = 3.2 𝑔 𝐻 × 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐻 = 3.2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐻
1.00 𝑔 𝐻
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑂 = 22.0 𝑔 𝑂 × 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂 = 1.38 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂
16.0 𝑔 𝑂
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑀𝑛 = 25.2 𝑔 𝑀𝑛 × 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑀𝑛 = 0.460 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑀𝑛
55.0 𝑔 𝑀𝑛
Cont. Example 3

3. Divide the number of moles by the smallest number of moles.

𝐶 = 4.13 𝑚𝑜𝑙 = 9 𝑂 = 1.38 𝑚𝑜𝑙 = 3
0.460 𝑚𝑜𝑙 0.460 𝑚𝑜𝑙

𝐻 = 3.2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 = 7 𝑀𝑛 = 0.460 𝑚𝑜𝑙 = 1

0.460 𝑚𝑜𝑙 0.460 𝑚𝑜𝑙
Thus, C9H7O3Mn is the empirical formula of MMT.
 Example 4
Corundum, the 9th hardest mineral, contains 52.94% Al and 47.06% O. Based
on this composition, what is the empirical formula of the compound?
Solution:
1. Convert the % of each element to mass, using 100 g compound as basis.
mass Al = 52.94 g mass O = 47.06 g
2. Convert the mass to number of moles of atoms, using atomic mass.

𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝐴𝑙 = 52.94 𝑔 𝐴𝑙 × 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐴𝑙 = 1.960 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐴𝑙

27.0 𝑔 𝐴𝑙
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑂 = 47.06 𝑔 𝑂 × 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂 = 2.940 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂
16.0 𝑔 𝑂
 Cont. Example 4

3 Divide the number of moles by the smallest number of

moles.
𝐴𝑙 = 1 .960 𝑚𝑜𝑙 = 1 𝑂 = 2 .940 𝑚𝑜𝑙 = 1.5
1.960 𝑚𝑜𝑙 1.960 𝑚𝑜𝑙
Thus, (AlO1.5) or Al2O3 is corundum's empirical formula.
It must be noted that if, after dividing by the smallest
number, the subscript is still a decimal number with decimal
part of 5, multiply all subscripts by 2. If the decimal part is 3,
multiply all subscripts by 3. if the decimal part is 25 and 75,
multiply all subscript by 4
 Example 5
An analysis of nicotine, one of more than 4 000 chemicals found in the smoke
of tobacco products, shows that it is 74.0% C, 8.65% H, and 17.35% N. If the
molar mass of nicotine is 162 g/mol, what is the empirical formula and the
molecular formula of nicotine?
Solution:
1. Convert the % of each element to mass, using 100 g compound as basis.
mass C = 74.0 g mass H = 8.65 g mass N= 17.35 g
2. Convert the mass to number of moles of atoms, using atomic mass.
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝐶 = 74 𝑔 𝐶 × 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶 = 6.17 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶
12.0 𝑔 𝐶
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝐻 = 8.65 𝑔 𝐻 × 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐻 = 8.65 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐻
1.00 𝑔 𝐻
𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑁 = 17.35 𝑔 𝑁 × 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁 = 1.239 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁
14.0 𝑔 𝑁
 Cont. Example 5
3. Divide the number of moles by the smallest number of moles.
𝐶 = 6.17 𝑚𝑜𝑙 = 5 𝐻 = 8.69 𝑚𝑜𝑙 = 7 𝑁 = 1 .239 𝑚𝑜𝑙 = 1
1.239 𝑚𝑜𝑙 1.239 𝑚𝑜𝑙 1.239 𝑚𝑜𝑙
Thus, 𝐶5𝐻7𝑁 is the empirical formula of nicotine.

4. To get its molecular formula, compute the empirical formula mass of

the 𝐶5𝐻7𝑁
C = 5 x 12.0 = 60.0
H = 7 x 1.0 = 7.0
N = 1 x 14.0 = 14.0
81.0 g/mol
 Cont. Example 5

5 Derive the molecular formula, using the following:

𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 × 𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎
𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠

𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 = 162g/mol × 𝐶5𝐻7𝑁

81 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙
Thus, 𝐶10𝐻14𝑁2 is the molecular formula of nicotine.