Chemical Formulas
Percent Composition
l Used to describe the composition by mass of
various substances.
l Give
individual percentage by mass of each
element in a compound.
Part
l Percentage is always ´100
Whole
Practice
l Calculate the percent composition of R-22,
chlorodifluoromethane, CHF2Cl, the refrigerant
used in home air conditioners.
Empirical and Molecular Formulas
l Consider the following compounds
l Ethylene, C2H4
l Propylene, C3H6
l Cyclobutane, C4H8
l Cyclohexane, C6H12
l All have different molecular formulas
l Molecular formula – a formula telling
exactly how many atoms of each type
are present in a molecule
Empirical and Molecular Formulas
l Consider the following compounds
l Ethylene, C2H4
l Propylene, C3H6
l Cyclobutane, C4H8
l Cyclohexane, C6H12
l All have the same empirical formula, CH2
l Empirical formula – a formula describing
the lowest whole number ratio of atoms
in a compound
Empirical Formulas
l We typically have the ability to calculate the empirical
formula of a compound relatively easily
l 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.
A Simple Rhyme for a Simple Formula by Joel
S. Thompson
Percent to mass
Mass to mole
Divide by small
Multiply ‘til whole
Practice
A 100.0g sample of a
compound is found to
contain 32.38g sodium,
22.65g sulfur and
44.99g oxygen. What is
the empirical formula of
the compound?
Practice
A compound contains
26.56% potassium,
35.41% chromium
and the remainder is
oxygen. What is the
empirical formula?
Adjusting the Ratio
l What do you do if you get a ratio with something
that ends in
l 0.50?
l Multiply by 2
l 0.33 or 0.66?
l Multiply by 3
l 0.25 or 0.75?
l Multiply by 4
l 0.20, 0.40, 0.60, or 0.80?
l Multiply by 5
Practice
lIsoamyl acetate is the component of
bananas that give them their smell. It
is 64.58%C, 10.84%H, 24.58% O.
What is the empirical formula?
Empirical to Molecular Formula
What is the molecular formula of a
compound with an empirical
formula of CH2 and a molar mass
of 84.156 g/mol?
l Use the ratio of the molar mass of
the empirical formula to the molar
mass of the compound.
Empirical to Molecular Formula
What is the molecular formula for a sample
of compound that consists of 0.44g
hydrogen and 6.92g oxygen? The molar
mass of the compound is 34.00g/mol.
Practice
Theobromine, a stimulant in chocolate that
is very similar to caffeine, has a molecular
weight of 180.18g/mol, and is 46.66% C,
4.48% H, 31.10% N, and 17.76% O.
What is the empirical and molecular formula
of this compound?
Extra Practice
Lycopene, the stuff in tomatoes that
contributes to their red color and supports
prostate health in men, has a molar mass
of 536.90g/mol. It is 89.49%C and
10.51%H by mass.
What are the empirical and molecular
formulas of this compound? Quintin
Practice
lAscorbic Acid, Vitamin C, is 40.92%C,
4.58%H, and 54.50%O. It has a
molar mass of 176.14g/mol What are
the empirical and molecular formulas?
Practice
l Isoamyl acetate is the component of bananas that give
them their smell. It is 64.58%C, 10.84%H, 24.58% O.
What is the empirical formula?
l Theobromine, a stimulant in chocolate that is very similar
to caffeine, has a molecular weight of 180.18g/mol, and
is 46.66% C, 4.48% H, 31.10% N, and 17.76% O. What
is the empirical and molecular formula of this
compound?
l Lycopene, the stuff in tomatoes that contributes to their
red color and supports prostate health in men, has a
molar mass of 536.90g/mol. It is 89.49%C and
10.51%H by mass. What are the empirical and molecular
formulas of this compound?
l Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin C, is 40.92%C, 4.58%H, and
54.50%O. It has a molar mass of 176.14g/mol What are
the empirical and molecular formulas?
Test Review Practice
l 20.0g of a hydrate of iron(III) nitrate is heated
until all the waters of hydration are lost.
11.97g of anhydrous salt remains after
heating. What is the formula of the
compound?
l Glycerin is a thick liquid that is used in a wide
variety of situations. It is 39.12% C, 8.756% H,
and 52.12% O and has a molar mass of about
92g/mol. What is the molecular formula of
glycerin?
l Galactaric acid is a sugar acid derived from
galactose. It is 34.29% C, 4.797%H, and
60.91% O and has a molecular weight around
210amu. What is the molecular formula of
galactaric acid?
