Empirical Formula

and
Molecular Formula
 Empirical Formula
It is the simplest atomic ratio of the
elements present in the compound.
This means that the number of
atoms of each element in the
compound is not divisible by any
number.
Simplest form
 Molecular Formula
specifies the actual number of atoms
of each element in one molecule or
formula unit of the substance.
True formula
It is always a whole-number multiple of
the empirical formula.
 The following are procedures in
determining the empirical formula of
the compound given its percentage
composition.
 Sample Problem No. 1
Nicotine is a compound obtained from
tobacco and is believed to be responsible for
many harmful effects of cigarette. Nicotine
contains 74.03% C, 8.70% H and 17.27% N. If the
molar mass of nicotine is 162 g/mol, what is its
molecular formula?
Procedure No. 1
Assume that the compound has a mass of 100g.
By doing this the numerical value of the percentage
of each constituent element becomes its mass in
grams.
 # of moles, n
Mass in grams Atomic n= mass/ Empirical
Element n / smallest n X2
(Assume 100g) mass atomic mass Formula

C 74.03

H 8.70

N 17.27
Procedure No. 2
Determine the atomic mass of each
element from the periodic table.

Carbon (C)
Hydrogen (H)
Nitrogen (N)
 # of moles, n
Mass in grams Atomic n= mass/ Empirical
Element n / smallest n X2
(Assume 100g) mass atomic mass Formula

C 74.03 12

H 8.70 1

N 17.27 14
 Procedure No. 3
Compute the number of moles of each
elements by dividing the mass of the
element by its atomic mass.

Number Mass
of
Moles Atomic mass
 # of moles, n
n/
Mass in grams Atomic n= mass/ atomic Empirical
Element smallest X2
(Assume 100g) mass mass
n
Formula

74.03 ÷ 12
C 74.03 12 =
6.17
8.70 ÷ 1
H 8.70 1 =
8.70
17.27÷ 14
N 17.27 14 =
1.23
Procedure No. 4
Among the number of moles computed
determine the one which has the lowest
value. Divide all numbers of moles by the
lowest value of mole. If the quotient has a 0.5
(example 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5) multiply all
quotients by 2.

n
Smallest n
 # of moles, n
Mass in grams Atomic Empirical
Element n= mass/ atomic mass n / smallest n x2
(Assume 100g) mass Formula

74.03 ÷ 12 6.17 ÷ 1.23

C 74.03 12 = = C5
6.17 5
8.70 ÷ 1 8.70 ÷ 1.23
H 8.70 1 = = H7
8.70 7

17.27÷ 14 1.23 ÷ 1.23

N 17.27 14 = = N
1.23 1
 Nicotine is a compound obtained
from tobacco and is believed to be
responsible for many harmful effects of
cigarette. Nicotine contains 74.03% C,
8.70% H and 17.27% N. If the molar mass
of nicotine is 162 g/mol, what is its
molecular formula?

C5H7N
Procedure No. 5

The molecular formula of the compound is

obtained by dividing the actual molar weight of
the compound by the “empirical mass” (the
molar weight of the compound base on its
empirical formula) and multiplying the quotient
and the subscripts of the elements in the empirical
formula.
 Compute for the empirical mass based on
the empirical formula.

C5H7N1

C = 5 x 12 = 60
H=7x 1= 7
N = 1 x 14 = 14
81 g/mol
 Compute the ratio of the true molar mass
and empirical mass.

Molar mass
Ratio
Empirical mass
162 g/mol
Ratio
81 g/mol 2
 To get the molecular formula multiply the
subscripts of the empirical formula by the ratio

Molecular Formula 2 (C5H7N)

Molecular Formula C10H14N2

 Group 1
Succinic acid is a substance produced by
lichens. Chemical analysis indicates it is
composed of 40.68% carbon, 5.08%
hydrogen, and 54.24% oxygen and has a
molar mass of 118.1 g/mol. Determine the
empirical and molecular formulas for
succinic acid.
 Group 2
The mineral ilmenite is usually mined and
processed for titanium, a strong, light, and
flexible metal. A sample of ilmenite
contains 5.41 g of iron, 4.64 g of titanium,
and 4.65 g of oxygen. Determine the
empirical formula for ilmenite.
Thank You for Listening
LUMBAGA, Shiela Raso
Biological Science