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:
1. the types of atoms or ions in the compound,
2. 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
1. Empirical formula
2. 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
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:

Chemical Substances Molecular Empirical

Formula 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 4.23/56 1.80/16
of mole =0.0755 =0.1125
Simple 0.0755/0.0755 0.1125/0.0755
ratio =1 =1.5
Ratio in 2 3
round
number
The empirical formula of iron oxide = Fe O 2 3

Example:
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 20.2g 26.6g 53.2g

100g

Number of 20.2/24 26.6/32 53.2/16

mole =0.8417mol =0.8313mol =3.325mol

Simple ratio 0.8417/0.8313 0.8313/0.8313 3.325/0.8313

=1 =1 =4
The empirical formula of the compound is MgSO4
Example:
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 85.7g 14.3g
100g
Number of 85.7/12 14.3/1
mole =7.142mol =14.3mol
Simple ratio 7.142/7.142 14.3/7.142
=1 =2
 The empirical formula of the hydrocarbon = CH 2

Molecular Formula
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 CO  and the molecular formula is also CO .
2 2

4. Whereas, the empirical formula of ethane is CH  while the molecular formula of ethane
3

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 C H . n n

The relative molecular mass of C H n n

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

13n = 78
n = 78/13 = 6
Therefore, the molecular formula of benzene
=  CH
6 6

Example:

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
= 14.4/16
=0.9 mol

From the molecular formula, we learn that the ratio of element X to oxygen X:O = 2:3

Therefore, the number of mole of X =0.9× 2/3 =0.6 mol

Number of mole, 
n =  mass/Molar mass
0.6 = mass/56*
mass = 33.6g

The mass of element X = 33.6g

*Molar mass of a substance = Relative atomic mass of the substance

Percentage of Mass
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:

RAM = Relative atomic mass

RMM = Relative molecular mass
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

Chemical Formula of Ionic Compounds

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

Potassium K + Calcium Ca 2+

Sodium Na + Magnesium Mg 2+

Lithium Li + Zinc Zn 2+

Hydrogen H + Barium Ba 2+

Argentums(I) Ag + Iron (II) Fe 2+

Mercury(I) Hg + Tin (II) Sn 2+

Ammonium NH 4
+ Lead(II) Pb 2+

Aluminium Al3+ Copper(II) Cu 2+

Iron (III) Fe3+ Manganese(II) Mn 2+

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

Sulphate Carbonate Nitrate Hydroxide

SO 4
2-
CO 3
2-
NO 3
–
OH –

Fluoride Chloride Bromide Iodide Oxide

F –
Cl –
Br –
I –
O 2-

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

 Phosphate PO43-

Ethanoat CH3COO–

Manganate(VII) MnO4–

Dichromate(VI) Cr2O72-

Thiosulphate S2O32-

Formula of Ionic Compounds

Chemical Formlula of Ionic Compounds
2 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

1. Potassium bromide
2. 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

1. Calcium iodide
 2. 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

1. Ammonium sulphate
2. Zinc nitrate
Answer:
a. Ammonium sulphate

b. Zinc nitrate

Example 4 – Formulae of Acid

Write the formula of the following acid

1. Hydrochloric acid
2. Sulphuric acid
3. Nitric acid
 4. Ethanoic acid
5. Phosphoric acid
6. Carbonic acid
Answer:
a. Hydrochloric acid

b. Sulphuric acid

c. Nitric acid

d. Ethanoic acid

e. Phosphoric acid

f. Carbonic acid
Formula of Molecules
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  CO2 Nitrogen dioxide  NO2

dioxide

water  H2O Nitrous oxide  N2O

Ammonia  NH3 Tetrachloromethane  CCl4

Sulphur  SO3 Hydrogen sulphide  H2F

trioxide

Sulphur  SO2 Glucose  C6H12O62

dioxide

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 chemical reaction. Therefore, the amount of atom of each element before reaction
must be equal after reaction.
Example:
Balance the following chemical equations:

1. Mg +    O2 →    MgO
2. CuO + H2 →    Cu + H2O
3. Na +    H2O →    NaOH + H2
4. Li +    Cl2 →    LiCl
Answer:
a.
2Mg +    O  →    2MgO
2

 
b.
CuO + H  →    Cu + H O
2 2

 
c.
2Na +    2H O →    2NaOH + H
2 2

d.
2Li +    Cl  →    2LiCl
2

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: