I.

Molecular and Empirical Formula

• A chemical formula ( empirical of molecular) of a molecular compound tells which
atoms and how many of each type of atom are present in a molecule.

• The empirical formula of a compound is defined as the formula that shows the the
lowest (or smallest) whole number ratio of the elements in the compound, but not the
actual numbers of atoms found in the molecule.

• The molecular gives the actual whole number ratio of the elements in the compound.
For example;
Compound Molecular Formula Empirical Formula
ribose C5H10O5 CH2O
hydrogen peroxide H2O2 HO
ammonia NH3 NH3
glucose C6H12O6 CH2O
caffeine C8H10N4O2 C4H5N2O
water H2O H2 O

• To derive the empirical formula from the molecular formula simply divide the numerical
subscripts in the molecular formula by the lowest common multiple (LCM). For example,
the LCM for glucose is 6. Dividing all the numerical subscripts by 6 gives CH2O as the
empirical formula for glucose.
Thus, the molecular formula is a multiple of the empirical formula

II. Stoichiometry: Mole Ratios

• The molecular formula for glucose shows that one glucose molecule comprises of 6
carbon atoms, 12 hydrogen atoms and 6 oxygen atoms. Likewise, 1.0 mole of C6H12O6 is
composed of 6.0 moles of carbon, 12.0 moles of hydrogen and 6.0 moles of oxygen.

• Likewise, the molecular formula for caffeine shows that one caffeine molecule comprises
of 8 carbon atoms, 10 hydrogen atoms, 4 nitrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms. Therefore,
1.0 mole of C8H10N4O2 is composed of 8.0 moles of carbon, 10.0 moles of hydrogen,
4.0 moles of nitrogen and 2.0 moles of oxygen.
Question:
Calculate the number of moles of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen atoms, 2 moles of the
compound, C6H16N2, will produce.
Solution
If mole of C6H16N2 gives 6 moles of Carbon, 16 moles of hydrogen and 2 moles of nitrogen (
from the molecular formula), 2 moles will give twice the amount of moles for each atom.
2 moles of C6H16N2 will give 12 moles of Carbon, 32 moles of hydrogen and 4 moles of
nitrogen.