Percent Composition

and Empirical Formulas

Worksheets #6 and #7
 Readthrough the notes on this Powerpoint, then
work on worksheets #6 and #7 in your packet.
Both worksheets are due on Monday.
#6 - Percent Composition

Percent composition is the percent by

mass of each element in a compound.

Percent composition is one way that

chemists can identify unknown
compounds.
 Percent Composition
 Tofind the percent composition you will need to
know the total mass of the compound (the molar
mass) and the masses of each individual element.

 Note: The steps are listed at the top of Worksheet #6

 From the worksheet:

1. What is the percent composition for NaCl?
Percent Composition

1. What is the percent composition for

sodium chloride?

 Step #1 – Name the compound

 NaCl ____Sodium Chloride________

Percent Composition

1. What is the percent composition for sodium chloride?

 Step #2 – Find the total molar mass.

Na = 1 x 22.990 g/mol
+Cl = 1 x 35.453 g/mol
58.443 g/mol
 Percent Composition
1. What is the percent composition for
sodium chloride?

 Step #3 – Find the percent of each element.

Mass of Na Percent composition of Na:

22.990 g/mol X 100 = 39.337%
58.443 g/mol
Total Molar Mass
Percent Composition
1. What is the percent composition for sodium chloride?

 Step #3 – Find the percent of each element.

Percent composition of Cl:

35.453 g/mol X 100 = 60.663%
58.443 g/mol
Percent Composition

1. What is the percent composition for

sodium chloride?

To check your work, add up the

percents to make sure they equal 100%.
Percent Composition

Note: Look at problem #3. There is

more than one oxygen in the formula.

When you find your percent, you have to

take all of the oxygens divided by the
total molar mass.
Percent Composition

Try #3 on your own.

(Don’t move on to the next slide until you

have finished #3!)
 Percent Composition
3. What is the percent composition for KMnO4?

Molar Mass: K: (39.098 / 158.034) x 100 = 24.740%

K = 1 x 39.098 g/mol
Mn = 1 x 54.938 g/mol Mn: (54.938 / 153.034) x 100 = 34.763%
+O = 4 x 15.999 g/moL
158.034 g/mol O: 4 x 15.999 x 100 = 40.495%
158.034
Empirical Formulas
(Worksheet #7)
 Empirical Formulas

Empirical Formula:
Formula that represents the simplest ratio
among the elements of a compound
 Calculating an empirical formula
from the percent composition

1. Change all %’s to grams

2. Convert all grams to moles

3. Divide by the smallest # of moles

4. Use the whole number ratio to write the formula

 Example

1. What is the empirical formula for a

compound that is 75.0% carbon and 25.0%
hydrogen?

Step 1 - Change all %’s to grams

75.0 g C
25.0 g H
 Example continued
Step 2 - Convert all grams to moles

75.0 g C 1 mol C
= 6.24 mol C
12.011 g C
Molar 25.0 g H 1 mol H
masses = 24.8 mol H
1.008 g H

Which of these two numbers is the smallest number of moles?

 Example continued
Step 3 - Divide by the smallest # of
moles (round numbers to nearest
whole number)
= 1
6.24 mol C
6.24 mol
= 4
24.8 mol H
6.24 mol Smallest number of moles!
 Example continued
Step 3 - Divide by the smallest # of
moles (round numbers to nearest
whole number)
= 1 mole of C
6.24 mol C
6.24 mol
= 4 moles of H
24.8 mol H
6.24 mol
Example continued
4. Use the whole number ratio to
write the formula.

Empirical formula:
CH4
#7 – Empirical Formulas

 Try #2 on your own.

(Don’t move on to the next slide until you

have finished #2!)
 #7 – Empirical Formulas

2. 52.7% potassium and 47.3% chlorine

52.7 g K 1 mol K
= 1.35 mol K ÷ 1.33 = 1.02
39.098 g K
47.3 g Cl
= 1.33 mol Cl ÷ 1.33 = 1.00
35.453 g Cl

1 to 1 ratio, so the
formula is KCl