EMPIRICAL FORMULA &

MOLECULAR FORMULA
EMPIRICAL FORMULA
 Itrepresents the smallest whole number
ratio of combining atoms in a mole of a
compound.

MOLECULAR FORMULA
 Itindicates the number of atoms that
combined to form the molecule or the
compound.
 To Determine the Empirical Formula
1. Convert the amounts of each
element to moles.
2. Divide by the smallest number of
moles to get the simplest ratio.
3. Adjust the ratio to get the lowest
whole number ratio.
 We derive the molecular formula of a compound from the
ratio of the combining ions. In NaCl the ratio of Na+ to Cl-
is 1:1
 In covalent molecules, the ratio of the combining atoms is
indicated by the subscripts of the atoms. Thus C2H6 the
ratio is 2:6 or 1:3.
MOLAR MASS
 Is
the sum of the atomic masses in a compound or
molecule formula.
 We can determine the molar mass of a substance, from
the given molecular formula.
EXAMPLES; C2H6 has a molar mass of 30 amu

PERCENT COMPOSITION
 The percentage composition of a given compound is defined
as the ratio of the amount of each element to the total
amount of individual elements present in the compound
multiplied by 100.
PRACTICE
1. Given
the percentage composition as
H- 4.07 , C-24.27% AND Cl-71.65%
calculate the empirical and the
molecular formula has given the molar
mass of the compound as 98.98g.
 
 Empirical Formula and
Molecular Formula
______________________
Ex. Compute for the % composition of
hydrogen peroxide, H2O2.

Given: H = 1.007, O = 15.999

H2O2:
H = 2 × 1.007 = 2.014 amu
O = 2 × 15.999 = 31.998 amu
Molecular Mass = 34.012 g/mole
%Composition of H2O2

%H = 2.014 g / 34.012 g × 100 = 5.92%

%O = 31.998 g / 34.012 g × 100 = 94.08%
=100.00%
Let’s try this: Determine the %
composition of sulfuric acid,
H2SO4.
Given: H = 1.007, S = 32.060 O = 15.999
H2SO4:
H = 2 × 1.007 = 2.014 amu
S = 1 x 32.060 = 32.060 amu
O = 4 × 15.999 = 63.996 amu
Molecular Mass = 98.070 g/mole
%Composition of H2SO4

%H = 2.014 g / 98.070 g × 100 = 2.05%

%S = 32.060 g / 98.070 g x 100 = 32.69%
%O = 63.996 g / 98.070 g × 100 = 65.26%
=100.00%
2. Empirical Formula - known as the
simplest formula or formula of the substance
written with the smallest integer subscripts. In
ionic compounds, the empirical formula is the
formula of the compound.

a.) Empirical Formula from a Given Amount

of Each Element
Example:
A compound of N and O is analyzed and a sample
weighing 1.587 g is found to contain 0.483 g N and
1.104 g O. What is the empirical formula?
Given: N = 14.006, O = 15.999 (use at least 3-4
decimal places from the PTE)
Step 1: Convert into mole.

0.483 g N x 1 mole N = 0.0345 mole N

14.006 g N

1.104 g O x 1 mole O = 0.0690 mole O

15.999 g O
2nd Step: Divide by Smaller One (0.0345 mol)
0.0345 mole N ÷ 0.0345 = 1
0.0690 mole O ÷ 0.0345 = 2

(smallest quotient)

therefore Emp. Formula = NO2

b.) Empirical Formula from Percentage
Composition
Ex. An analysis of a certain compound gives
the following mass percentage of 17.55% Na,
39.70% Cr, and 42.75% O. What is the
empirical formula?

Given: Na = 22.989, Cr = 51.996, O = 15.999

(use at least 3 decimal places referring from
the PTE)
Note: Assume that there is a 100 grams of substance.

17.55 g Na x 1 mole Na = 0.76 mole Na ÷ 0.76 = 1 mole Na x 2 =

2
22.989 g Na

39.70 g Cr x 1 mole Cr = 0.76 mole Cr ÷ 0.76 = 1 mole Cr x 2 = 2

51.996 g Cr

42.75 g O x 1 mole O = 2.67 mole O ÷ 0.76 = 3.5 mole O x 2 = 7

15.999 g O
smallest quotient factor

convert to mole
Note: Since we cannot have a formula having
subscripts with decimal points (NaCrO3.5), we must
convert it to whole numbers by multiplying with a least
common factor (2).
 
Therefore: Empirical Formula = Na2Cr2O7

Checking using % composition:

Na – 2 x 22.989 = 45.978 45.978 ÷ 261.963 x 100% = 17.55%
Cr – 2 x 51.996 = 103.992 103.992 ÷ 261.963 x 100% = 39.70%
O – 7 x 15.999 = 111.993 111.993 ÷ 261.963 x 100% = 42.75%
= 261.963 100.00%
Let us try this!

Problem: Determine the empirical

formulas for compounds with the
following percent compositions:
C = 15.776% and S = 84.223%

Given: C = 12.011, S = 32.060 (use at least

3 decimal places referring from the PTE)
Note: Assume that there is a 100 grams of substance.

15.776 g C x 1 mole C = 1.31 mole C ÷ 1.31 = 1 mole C

12.011 g C

84.223 g S x 1 mole S = 2.62 mole S ÷ 1.31 = 2 mole S

32.060 g S

convert to mole smallest quotient

Therefore: Empirical Formula = CS2

3. Molecular Formula - shows the actual number of all
atoms present in a given compound. It is equal to a
multiple of its empirical formula like for example acetylene
(CH)2 = C2H2 and benzene (CH)6 = C6H6.

 
Ex. A compound with a molecular weight of
56.10 g has the following percentage
composition: C = 85.639% and H = 14.360%.
C = 12.011, H = 1.007
Compute for the molecular formula:
a.based on the computed empirical formula
b.based on the molecular formula wt.
(without computing the empirical formula)
Solution:
a. )Molecular Formula based on Computed Empirical Formula
Assume: 100 g of substance
C = 85.639 g × 1 mole = 7.13 mole ÷ 7.13 = 1
12.011 g
H = 14.360 g × 1 mole = 14.26 mole ÷ 7.13 = 2
1.007 g

convert to mole smallest quotient

Therefore, the empirical formula is CH2
 

Going back to the problem: *CH2:

The given molecular weight C = 1 × 12.011 = 12.011 amu
of a sample compound is H = 2 × 1.007 = 2.014 amu
56.10 g 14.025 g/mole
CH2
56.10 g/mole
14.025 g/mole = 4 x (emp.form.)
= 4 x (CH2)
=4 MF = C4H8
(whole number)
b.) Molecular Formula from the Given Molecular Weight
(Without Computing the Empirical Formula)

C = 56.10 g x 85.639% = 48.043 g ÷ 1 mole = 4 moles

100% 12.011 g

H = 56.10 g x 14.360% = 8.055 g ÷ 1 mole = 8 moles

100% 1.007 g

molecular eliminate atomic

weight percentage weight
Molecular Formula = C4H8
Therefore, the Molecular Formula = C4H8
 
Note: a & b should have the same answer.
Let us try this: An unknown compound is found
to contain 40.004% carbon, 6.707% hydrogen,
and 53.287% oxygen with a molecular mass of
60.0 g/mol. What is the molecular formula of
the unknown compound?
C = 12.011, H = 1.007, O = 15.999
Compute for the molecular formula:
a.based on the computed empirical formula
b.based on the molecular formula wt.
(without computing the empirical formula)
Solution:
a. )Molecular Formula based on Computed Empirical Formula
Assume: 100 g of substance
C = 40.004 g × 1 mole = 3.33 mole ÷ 3.33 = 1
12.011 g
H = 6.707 g × 1 mole = 6.66 mole ÷ 3.33 = 2
1.007 g
O = 53.287 g × 1 mole = 3.33 mole ÷ 3.33 = 1
15.999 g

convert to mole smallest quotient

Therefore, the empirical formula is CH2O
 

Going back to the problem: *CH2O:

The given molecular weight C = 1 × 12.011 = 12.011 amu
of a sample compound is H = 2 × 1.007 = 2.014 amu
60.0 g/mole O = 1 x 15.999 = 15.999 amu
30.024 g/mole
60.0 g/mole
CH2O
30.024 g/mole = 2 x (emp.form.)
= 2 x (CH2O)
=2 MF = C2H4O2
(whole number)
b.) Molecular Formula from the Given Molecular Weight
(Without Computing the Empirical Formula)
C = 60.0 g x 40.004% = 24.002 g ÷ 1 mole = 2 moles
100% 12.011 g

H = 60.0 g x 6.707% = 4.024 g ÷ 1 mole = 4 moles

100% 1.007 g

O = 60.0 g x 53.287% = 31.972 g ÷ 1 mole = 2 moles

100% 15.999 g

molecular eliminate atomic

weight percentage weight
Molecular Formula = C2H4O2
CHEMICAL EQUATIONS

A Chemical reaction is a process in which one or more

substances are changed into new substances, and to
know whether a reaction has occurred, physical changes
can be observed:
- color or odor change
- a precipitate formed
- a gas has evolved
- temperature change (heat released or absorbed)
 
This reaction can be expressed in chemical equation. All
equations have 3 basic parts: Reactants, one or more
substances that enter reaction, Yield sign (→), and
Products, one or more substances that formed during
the reaction. Chemical equation can be written as:

¨ Formula equation, uses chemical symbols and

formula of substances
¨ Word equation, use the names of elements and
compounds involved.
 
 
 Balancing chemical equation is the most important
thing in a chemical reaction, the numbers of atoms of
elements in the reactant must be the same with the
products, and this can be done through trial and error.
However, there are rules that must be followed:

- Numbers can only be added BEFORE the chemical

formula, these are known as Stoichiometric
coefficient. This can be applied in both reactant and
products side.
- NEVER change the subscript of a chemical formula
 
TYPES OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS

Chemical reactions can be classified into five:

- Synthesis, two or more elements/compounds

combine to make complex substance. ( A + B → AB)

- Decomposition, the breakdown of compounds into

simpler products. (AB → A + B)
 

 
TYPES OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS

- Single displacement, one element replaces another

in a compound, it happens due to difference in
reactivity, metals to metals, non-metal to non-metal
(A + BC → AC + B)

- Double displacement, also known as metathesis rxn,

when anions and cations of two different compounds
switch places. First and Last ion go together + inside
ions.(AB + CD → AD + BC)
TYPES OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS

- Combustion, any hydrocarbon reacts with oxygen to

form carbon dioxide and water, also known as burning.
(Hydrocarbon + O2 → CO2 + H2O)
 
 U FO R Y O U R
TH A N K Y O
T I O N A N D
C O O P E R A
T I O N ! !! S E E
P A R TI C IP A
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