EMPIRICAL FORMULAE

Silicon dioxide (silica)

SiO2 Ratio of Si:O = 1:2

 EMPIRICAL FORMULAE

Sodium chloride (salt)

NaCl Ratio of Na:Cl = 1:1

 EMPIRICAL FORMULAE
• All substances have an empirical formula

• It gives the simplest ratio of atoms/ions of each element in a

substance

• For most substances it is the ONLY formula (substances made of

molecules also have a second formula – the molecular formula)
 EMPIRICAL FORMULAE

Water

Empirical formula = H2O Sodium

Ratio of H:O =chloride
2:1 (salt)
NaCl
Molecular formula = H2O In one molecule: 2H & 1O atoms
Ratio of Na:Cl = 1:1
 EMPIRICAL FORMULAE

Benzene

Empirical formula = CH Ratio of C:H = 1:1

Molecular formula = C6H6 In one molecule: 6C & 6H atoms
CALCULATING EMPIRICAL FORMULAE

• usually presented with composition by mass of atoms in a

compound or the composition by percentage mass
• for both, convert composition by mass to composition by
moles (mole ratio)
• then express the latter as the simplest whole number
ratio
CALCULATING EMPIRICAL FORMULAE
An organic compound was found to contain 6.0 g of C, 1.0 g
of H and 8.0 g of O. Mass spectrometry showed this
compound has an Mr of 180.0. Find the empirical and
molecular formulae.

• C H O
• Composition by mass 6.0 1.0 8.0
• Ar 12.0 1.0 16.0
• Mole ratio (mass / Ar) 0.5 1.0 0.5
• Simplest whole 1 2 1
• number ratio
CALCULATING EMPIRICAL FORMULAE
An organic compound was found to contain 6.0 g of C, 1.0 g
of H and 8.0 g of O. Mass spectrometry showed this
compound has an Mr of 180.0. Find the empirical and
molecular formulae.

• Empirical formula is CH2O

• Mr of CH2O is 30.0 but the Mr of the molecule is 180.0

• 180.0 / 30.0 = 6, so the molecular formula is C6H12O6

 COMBUSTION ANALYSIS

From measuring the masses of carbon dioxide and water

produced when an organic compound is combusted in an
excess of oxygen, it is possible to calculate its empirical
formula.

C2H6 + 3.5O2  2CO2 + 3H2O

Moles of C = moles of CO2

Moles of H = 2 x moles of H2O

 COMBUSTION ANALYSIS

When 4.6 g of an alcohol with an Mr of 46.0 is burnt in

excess oxygen, 8.8 g of carbon dioxide and 5.4 g of water
are produced. Calculate the empirical and molecular
formulae.

Amount of CO2 produced = 8.8 / 44.0 = 0.2 mol

 moles of C in compound is 0.2 mol

Amount of H2O produced = 5.4 / 18.0 = 0.3 mol

 moles of H in compound is 0.3 x 2 = 0.6 mol
 COMBUSTION ANALYSIS

When 4.6 g of an alcohol with an Mr of 46.0 is burnt in

excess oxygen, 8.8 g of carbon dioxide and 5.4 g of water
are produced. Calculate the empirical and molecular
formulae.

Now need the moles of oxygen:

• Mass of C in alcohol = 0.2 x 12.0 = 2.4 g

• Mass of H in alcohol = 0.6 x 1.0 = 0.6 g
• Mass of O in alcohol = 4.6 – 2.4 – 0.6 = 1.6 g
•  moles of O in compound = 1.6 / 16.0 = 0.1 mol
 COMBUSTION ANALYSIS

When 4.6 g of an alcohol with an Mr of 46.0 is burnt in

excess oxygen, 8.8 g of carbon dioxide and 5.4 g of water
are produced. Calculate the empirical and molecular
formulae.

• Molar ratio C : H : O = 0.2 : 0.6 : 0.1 = 2 : 6 : 1

•
•  Empirical formula is C2H6O
•
• Relative mass of empirical formula is 46.0, which is the
same as the measured Mr
•
•  Molecular formula is C2H6O