CALCULATING EMPIRICAL

FORMULA FROM PERCENT

COMPOSITION
OBJECTIVES:

Calculate the empirical formula

from the percent composition of
a compound.
What is PERCENT COMPOSITION?

Percent composition is the ratio of an amount of

each element to the total amount of individual
elements in a compound, which is then multiplied
with 100.

Total molar mass of an element

Percent Composition = X 100
Molar mass of the entire
compound
Example:

Find the percent composition

of water (H2O).
1. Find the molar mass of all the elements in the
compound in grams per mole.
1. Find the molar mass of all the elements in the
compound in grams per mole.
H2O
2 Hydrogen, 1 Oxygen
1. Find the molar mass of all the elements in the
compound in grams per mole.
1 8
H2O
H O 2 Hydrogen, 1 Oxygen
Hydrogen Oxygen
1.01 16.00
1. Find the molar mass of all the elements in the
compound in grams per mole.
1 8
H2O
H O 2 Hydrogen, 1 Oxygen
Hydrogen Oxygen
1.01 16.00
1. Find the molar mass of all the elements in the
compound in grams per mole.
1 8
H2O
H O 2 Hydrogen, 1 Oxygen
Hydrogen Oxygen
1.01 16.00

2 x (1.01)

= 2.02 g/mol
1. Find the molar mass of all the elements in the
compound in grams per mole.
1 8
H2O
H O 2 Hydrogen, 1 Oxygen
Hydrogen Oxygen
1.01 16.00

2 x (1.01)

= 2.02 g/mol
1. Find the molar mass of all the elements in the
compound in grams per mole.
1 8
H2O
H O 2 Hydrogen, 1 Oxygen
Hydrogen Oxygen
1.01 16.00

2 x (1.01) 1 x (16.00)

= 2.02 g/mol = 16 g/mol

2. Find the molecular mass of the entire compound.
2. Find the molecular mass of the entire compound.
1 8

H O
Hydrogen Oxygen
1.01 16.00

2 x (1.01) 1 x (16.00)
= 2.02 g/mol = 16 g/mol
2. Find the molecular mass of the entire compound.
1 8

H O
Hydrogen Oxygen
1.01 16.00

2 x (1.01) 1 x (16.00)
= 2.02 g/mol = 16 g/mol
2. Find the molecular mass of the entire compound.

2.02 + 16 = 18.02

Total molar mass Total molar Molar mass of

of Hydrogen mass of Oxygen the entire
compound
3. Divide the component’s molar mass by the entire molecular mass
and multiply by 100.
Total molar mass of an element
Percent Composition = X 100
Molar mass of the entire
compound

2.02
% of H = X 100 = 11.2 %
18.02

16
% of H = X 100 = 88.8 %
18.02