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Compound
Molecular
Formula
Empirical
Formula
Glucose
Octane
Copper(ii) chloride
Ethane
C6H12O6
C8H18
CuCl2
C2H6
CH2O
C4H9
CuCl2
CH3
Empirical Formula
Calculations to find the simplest formula incorporate this rhyme:
% to mass
Mass to mole
Divide by small
Multiply till whole
Element
% or g
(assume 100 g)
Molar Mass
(g/mol)
# moles
(mol)
Ratio of moles
Subscripts
(whole # ratio)
X
Y
Z
Example 2: A compound contained 29.08 % Na, 40.58 % S, and 30.34 % O. Find its Empirical Formula.
Suppose 100 g sample
Element
% or
Mass ( g)
Na
29.08g
M
(g/mol)
n=m/M
( mol)
Ratio of Moles
Subscripts
(whole # ratio)
22.99g/mol
29.08/22.99
= 1.266 mol
40.58/32.06
= 1.266 mol
30.34/16.00
= 1.896 mol
1.266= 1
1.266
1.266 = 1
1.266
1.896 = 1.5
1.266
1 x 2=2
40.58g
32.06g/mol
30.34g
16.00g/mol
1 x 2=2
1.5 x 2=3
Element
% or
Mass (g)
Molar Mass
(g/mol)
# moles
(mol)
Ratio of moles
Subscripts
(whole # ratio)
Cr
26.52 g
52.0 g/mol
0.51 mol
0.51/0.51 = 1
1x2=2
24.52 g
32.07 g/mol
0.77 mol
0.77/0.51=1.51
1.5x2=3
48.96 g
16.00 g/mol
3.06 mol
3.06/0.51 = 6
6x2=12
True formula can only be found if the true molar mass is given (since it depends on the actual
number of atoms)
In some cases, the empirical and molecular formulas are identical.
In other cases, the molecular formula is a whole-number multiple of the empirical formula.
If you know the molar mass simply divide it by the empirical mass to obtain a ratio by which the
subscripts in the empirical formula can be multiplied in order to obtain the molecular formula (factor
coefficient)
Factor coefficient, X
Example 1: The empirical formula of a compound was found to be CH2. Its molecular mass was also found to be
42 g/mol. What is its molecular formula?
Step 1 Determine the empirical formula
already done for you in this case
Step 2 Determine the total molar mass of the empirical formula
1 X C = 12.01 g/mol
2 X H = 2.02 g/mol
14.02 g/mol
Step 3 Divide the molar mass by the empirical formula molar mass
Experimental Molar mass
= Factor coefficient
Empirical formula molar mass
42 g/mol
= 3.0
14.02 g/mol
This tells us the coefficient by which to multiply each of the subscripts in the empirical formula
multiply subscripts by 3 CH2 C1X3H2X3 C3H6
Example 2: Chemical analysis reveals that a compound is 28.64% sulphur and 71.36% bromine. The molar mass
of the compound is 223.94 g/mol. What is its molecular formula?
Suppose a 100 g sample
Element
% or
Mass (g)
28.64 g
Molar Mass
(g/mol)
32.07 g/mol
# moles
(mol)
28.64 g
32.07 g / mol
Ratio of moles
Subscripts
(whole # ratio)
0.8930/0.8931=1
1*
0.8931/0.8930= 1
1*
=0.8930 mol
Br
71.36 g
79.90 g/mol
71.36 g
79.90 g / mol
=0.8931 mol
*Because the subscripts are already whole numbers, you do not need to determine the least common multiple.
The empirical formula is SBr.
Find the molar mass of the empirical formula:
MSBr=1Ms+1MBr
=1(32.07g/mol) + 1(79.90g/mol)=111.97 g/mol
Find the factor coefficient:
x= Experimental Molar Mass = 223.94 g/mol =2
Empirical Formula Molar Mass 111.97 g/mol
Therefore the molecular formula will be 2SBr S1X2 Br1X2 S2Br2
Review Steps:
1. Convert % to mass
2. Find # moles
3. Find the empirical formula
4. Find the molar mass of the empirical formula
5. Find the multiplier
Mtiplier = molecular mass/empirical mass
6. Multiply the multiplier by the empirical formula
NB: Do not round in step 2 or 3
Recall:
Hydrate us a compound that has a specific number of water molecules bound to each formula unit.
These water molecules may have become trapped in a specific arrangement upon crystal formation. (i.e.
calcium sulfate in gypsym incorporates two water molecules into its structure; CaSO42H2O(s).
These molecules are part of the crystal structure and add mass to the solid
When chemists work with ionic compounds in the solid state, they need to know whether these compounds
are hydrates or anhydrous compounds.
Example 1. Consider 1 g sample of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, MgSO47H2O(s) and 1 g sample of
anhydrous MgSO4(s). Which sample do you think contains more magnesium atoms?
The anhydrous form, since it contains more magnesium sulfate in 1 g sample without any water molecules, and
therefore more magnesium. The hydrated compound contains seven moles of water for every mole of magnesium
sulfate.
Analysis of Hydrated Salts
The amount of H2O in a hydrate can be determined by driving off the water through heating a known mass of
hydrate and then measuring the mass of the anhydrous salt for comparison
Mass of water in sample = (initial mass of hydrate) - (final mass of anhydrous form)
Once this is done, there is enough information to calculate the percentage by mass of water in a hydrate and then
the chemical formula of hydrate.
Example 2. Calculate the percent by mass of water in the hydrate, magnesium sulfate hexahydrate,
MgSO46H2O(s). (answer 50.88%)
To determine how many water molecules are bound to each formula unit of hydrate, you can use mole ratios of
water and anhydrate.
Example 3. A 50.0 g sample of barium hydroxide, Ba(OH)2xH2O(s) contains 27.2 g of Ba(OH)2(s). Calculate the
percent by mass of water in the hydrate, and find the value of x.
Since we will be using mole calculations, we need the molar masses of Barium hydroxide Ba(OH)2 and water, H2O
Molar Mass of Ba(OH)2= M Ba(OH) = 171.35 g/mol
Molar Mass of H2O= MH2O = 18.02 g/mol
2
= 1.27mol Ba(OH)2
MH O 18.02 g/mol
2
Ratio of moles
Subscripts
(whole # ratio)
Ba(OH)2
H2O
Compound
LaI3
% or
Mass (g)
76.2 g
Molar Mass
(g/mol)
520 g/mol
# moles
(mol)
76.2g
520 g/mol
Ratio of moles
Subscripts
(whole # ratio)
0.147/0.147=1
1.32/0.147=9
=0.147mol
H2O
23.8 g
18.02 g/mol
23.8g
18.02g/mol
=1.32mol
A magnetic field perpendicular to the path of the ion beam is then used to deflect the cations into the detector.
Based on the reading from the detector, a computer displays the results (computer output). A peak is displayed for
all masses observed. If multiple isotopes are present, a separate peak will be displayed for each. In addition, the
height of the peak indicates the abundance of the ion.