Molecular formula,

Empirical formula and

Structural formula
Ling Pick Yieng
General Formula

 Organic compounds with similar properties; classified

together in families; homologues series.
 Members of homologues series have the following
characteristics:
 All members ; a general formula
 All members; similar chemical properties due to presence
of the same functional group.
General Formula

 Gradual change in physical properties; melting

points, boiling points and densities due to
increasing molecular size and mass caused by the
length of carbon chains.
 Each member differs from the next by a CH2
group (14 units of RMM)
 Allcompounds in a series may be synthesised by
similar methods.
General formula is characteristic of a
homologous series
Homologous series General formula
Alkane CnH2n+2
Alkene CnH2n
Haloalkane CnH2n+1X (X= Cl, Br, I)
Alcohol CnH2n+1OH or CnH2n+2O
Carbonyl compound CnH2nO
Carboxylic acid CnH2n+1COOH or CnH2nO2
Acyl chloride CnH2n+1COCl
Amide CnH2n+1CONH2
Ester CnH2nO
Amine CnH2n+1NH2
Empirical Formula

 Simplest formula; simplest whole number ratio of

atoms of each element in the compound.
 Empirical formula; obtain from combustion
analysis.
Ex. 14.2

 An organic compound T that contains only carbon,

hydrogen and oxygen is found to contain 52.2% carbon and
13.0% hydrogen by mass on analysis. Calculate the
empirical formula of T.
 % of oxygen in T = 100 – 52.2 – 13.0 = 34.8%
Element C H O

Percentage 52.2 13.0 34.8

Number of moles 52.2 = 4.35 13.0 = 13.0 34.8 = 2.18

12 1 16

Simplest ratio 4.35 = 2 13.0 =6 2.18 =1

2.18 2.18 2.18