Calculations with redox

titrations
24.3 cm3 of 0.0200 mol dm3 KMnO4
reacted with 20.0 cm3 of an iron(II)
solution acidified with dilute sulfuric
acid.
Calculate the molarity of the iron(II)
ion.

Empirical Formula & Molecular

formula
The empirical formula of a compound gives
the
smallest whole number ratio of atoms in the
compound.
The molecular formula represents the actual
numbers of atoms of the different elements in
one molecule of a compound.
Example: Ethene (C2H4)
C2H4 molecular formula
C1H2 empirical formula

Determining empirical
formula
The empirical formula of a compound
can be
determined in several ways:
1. Experimental results from
combustion analysis
2. Mass composition data
3. Percentage composition data

Example 1 Combustion
Analysis

When a hydrocarbon is burnt in excess oxygen, 4.4 g of

CO2
and 1.8g of H2O are produced. What is the empirical
formula of the hydrocarbon? (C = 12g, O = 16g, H = 1g)
1. Write an equation for the reaction
2. Determine the # of moles of CO 2 produced
3. From 2, determine the # of moles of carbon present
4. Determine the # of moles of H2O produced
5. From 4, determine the # of moles of H present
6. Divide the values obtained in 3 and 5 by the smallest
number
7. Write the empirical formula

Your turn
A sample of hydrocarbon undergoes
complete
combustion to produce 4.40 g of
CO2and 2.70 g
of H2O. What is the empirical formula
of this
compound? (C = 12g, H = 1g, O = 16)

Example 2 Mass composition data

1.15 g of Na react with 0.8 g of S.
Calculate the empirical formula of the
compound
(Na = 23, S = 32)
1. Determine the number of moles of
each element present
2. Divide throughout by the smallest #
of moles
3. Write empirical formula

Your turn
A compound contains 72.2 g of
magnesium and 27.8g of nitrogen.
Determine the empirical formula. (Mg
= 24.3, N = 14)

Recap
A compound is found to have the
formula XBr2, in which X is an
unknown element. Bromine is found
to be 71.55% of the compound.
Determine the identity of X.
(Br = 79.90)

Example 3 Percentage mass

composition data
A compound is found to have percentage
composition 56.6% K, 8.7% C and 34.8% O by
mass. Calculate the empirical formula (K =
39g,
C = 12g, O = 16g)
1. Assume % = mass
2. Convert mass to moles for each component
3. Divide by the smallest number
4. Write the empirical formula

Your turn
A compound contained the following
percentages by mass 52.2% C. 13.0%
H and
34.8% O. Determine the empirical
formula.
(C = 12g, H = 1g, O = 16g)

Determining molecular
formula
Two factors are needed to calculate
molecular formula:
the empirical formula of the
compound
the molecular mass of the compound

Example
A compound has the empirical
formula CH2. If it has a molecular
mass of 39g/mol, what is the
molecular formula?
1. Calculate formula mass of empirical
formula
2. Divide molecular mass by empirical
formula mass
3. Multiply the empirical formula by
the whole number obtained in step

Your turn
Determine the molecular formula of a
compound given that the molecular
mass = 132.16 . Empirical formula
=C2H4O

Example
Hydrocarbon X has a molecular mass of 78g. It is found
to
have 92.3g C and 7.7g H by mass. Calculate the
empirical
and molecular formula. (C = 12g, H = 1g)
# of moles of C present = 92.3/12 = 7.692
# of moles of H present = 7.7/1
= 7.7
Ratio of C:H = (7.692/7.692) : (7.7/7.692) = 1:1
Empirical formula = CH
Molar mass of empirical formula = (12*1)+(1*1) = 13g
Molecular mass = 78g
Molecular mass/molar mass of E.F = 78g/13g = 6
Molecular formula = 6* empirical formula = 6*CH = C6H6

Your turn
A compound responsible for the odor
of garlic has a molecular weight of
146 g/mol. A 0.650 g sample of the
compound contains 0.321 g of
carbon, 0.044 g of hydrogen, and
0.285 g of sulfur. What is the
molecular formula of the compound?
(C = 12g/mol, H = 1g/mol, S =
32g/mol)

Deducing molecular formula using

Avogadros law
20cm3 of an unknown hydrocarbon needed
70cm3 of oxygen for complete combustion.
40cm3 of CO2 were produced as well as 60cm3 of
steam. All volumes were measured under the
same conditions of temperature and pressure.
Find the formula of the hydrocarbon
1. Write an equation for the reaction
2. Use Avogadros law to determine ratios for the
equation
3. Deduce the number of moles of carbon and
hydrogen in the unknown

Your turn
25cm3 of an unknown hydrocarbon
required 125cm3 of oxygen for
complete combustion. 75cm3 of CO2
and 100cm3 of steam were formed.
Deduce the molecular formula of the
hydrocarbon.

Question type #2
10cm3 of an unknown hydrocarbon required
30cm3 of oxygen for complete combustion.
20cm3 of CO2 was formed. All volumes were
measured at room temperature and pressure.
Find the formula of the hydrocarbon.
1. Write out the equation for the reaction
2. Use Avogadros law to fill in mole ratio
3. Fill in missing ratio based on step 2
4. Deduce the number of moles of carbon and
hydrogen in the unknown

Your turn
20cm3 of an unknown hydrocarbon
needed 120cm3 of oxygen for
complete combustion. 80cm3 of CO2
was produced. All volumes were
measured at room temperature and
pressure. Find the formula of the
hydrocarbon

Question type #3
20cm3 of a hydrocarbon was mixed with 80cm 3
of oxygen in excess. The resulting gases were
cooled back to room temperature and 60cm 3 of
gas was left. When this gas was exposed to
sodium hydroxide, the volume fell to 40cm3.
Find the formula of the hydrocarbon.
1. Account for all volume changes
2. Deduce mole ratios for the equation using
Avogadros law
3. Deduce number of carbon and hydrogen
atoms present in unknown

Your turn
10cm3 of an unknown hydrocarbon
was sparked with 90cm3 of oxygen in
excess. When the resulting gases
were cooled to room temperature, a
volume of 70cm3 remained. Exposure
of the gases to sodium hydroxide
solution reduced the volume to
40cm3. Find the formula of the
hydrocarbon.

Try this one

10cm3 of an unknown hydrocarbon
was sparked with 100cm3 of oxygen
in excess. When the resulting gases
were cooled to room temperature,
they had a volume of 75cm3.
Exposure of the gases to sodium
hydroxide solution reduced the
volume to 35cm3. Find the formula of
the hydrocarbon.

End of Topic 3!
The Mole Concept