4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3

C Chemical Formulae [ Refer to Clinic Module 1 ]

1. A chemical formula is a representation of a chemical substance using letters for elements and
subscript numbers to show the number of atoms of each element that are present in the
substance.

2. Example :
(i) The chemical formula of water is H2O. This formula indicates that,
• The elements present in a molecule of water are hydrogen and oxygen only.
• two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom are combined together to formed
one molecule of water.
C2H4O2
(ii) The chemical formula of ethanoic acid is CH3COOH This formula shows that :
• The elements present are ………………………, ………………………, and
………………….
• 2 …………… atoms, 4 …………… atoms and 2…………… atoms combined
together to form a molecule of ethanoic acid.

Empirical Formula and Molecular Formula [ Refer to Clinic Module 6 ]

1. There are two types of chemical formula; empirical formula and molecular formula.
2. Empirical formula is a chemical formula that shows the simplest ratio of atoms of each
element present in the compound.
3. Molecular formula is a chemical formula that shows the actual number of atoms of each
element present in one molecule of the compound.
4. Table below shows the molecular and empirical formulae of some compounds :
Simplest ratio of
Name of Molecular Actual number Empirical
atom of each
compound formula of atom Formula
element
C:H C:H
Ethene C2H4 2:4 1:2
CH2

C:H C:H
Butene C4H8 4:8 1:2
CH2

C:H C:H
Ethane C2H6 2:6 1:3
CH3

Butane C4H10
C:H:O
Ethanoic acid CH3COOH 2 :4 :2

Glucose C6H12O6

Water H2O

Quinine C20H24N2O2

Chapter 3 17 Chemical Formulae and Equations

4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3

C1 Empirical Formula [ Refer to Clinic Module 6 ]

5. The following shows the steps in determining the empirical formula of a compound,
Step 1 : Get the mass or percentage of each element in the compound.
Step 2 : Calculate the number of moles of each element in the compound
by dividing the mass of the element by the relative atomic of the element.

m
n Ar

Step 3 : Next, divide each number by the smallest number to obtain the simplest ratio.
Step 4 : Finally, write the empirical formula of the compound based on the simplest ratio of
moles of the element.

Example :

1. 14.2 g of chlorine combined with 3.2 g of oxygen to form a compound. Determine the empirical
formula of this compound.
[ Relative atomic mass : O = 16; Cl = 35.5 ]

Element Cl O
Mass (g) 14.2 3.2

14 .2 3.2
Number of moles (mol) = 0.4 = 0.2
35 .5 16

0.4 0.2
Ratio of moles =2 =1
0.2 0.2

The empirical formula of the compound is Cl2O

2. When 16.0 g of copper oxide is reduced by hydrogen gas, 12.8 g of copper metal is obtained.
Determine the empirical formula of copper oxide.
[ Relative atomic mass : O = 16; Cu = 64 ]

Element Cu O
Mass (g) 12.8 16.0 - 12.8 = 3.2

12 .8 3.2
m Number of moles (mol) = 0.2 = 0.2
64 16
n Ar
0.2 0.2
Ratio of moles = 1 = 1
0.2 0.2

The empirical formula of the copper oxide is CuO

Chapter 3 18 Chemical Formulae and Equations

4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3

3. Tobacco contains nicotine. Chemical analysis of the compound shows that nicotine contains :

• 74.10 % carbon
• 8.64 % hydrogen
• and the rest is nitrogen

Determine the empirical formula of nicotine.

[ Relative atomic mass : H = 1; C = 12; N = 14 ]

Element C H N
Percents (%) 74.10 8.64 100 – (74.10 + 8.64) = 17.26
Mass in 100 g of
74.10 8.64 17.26
nicotine / g
74 .10 8.64 17 .26
Number of moles (mol) = 6.175 = 8.640 = 1.233
12 1 14

6.175 8.640 1.233

Ratio of moles =5 =7 =1
1.233 1.233 1.233

Simplest ratio of moles 5 7 1

The empirical formula of the compound is C5H7N

4. It is found that x g of metal M combines with 9.6 g of oxygen to form a compound with the
empirical formula M2O3. Determine the value of x.
[ Relative atomic mass : M = 52; O = 16 ]

Element M O
Mass (g) x 9.6

x 9.6
Number of moles (mol) =y = 0.6
52 16

y 0.6
Ratio of moles =2 =3
0.2 0.2

Simplest ratio of moles 2 3

y
= 2
0.2
y = 2 × 0.2
= 0.4

x
=y
52
x = 52 × 0.4
= 20.8 g

Chapter 3 19 Chemical Formulae and Equations

4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3
5. 11.2 g of metal N combined with 21.3 g of chlorine to form a compound with the empirical
formula of NCl3. Determine the relative atomic mass of N.
[ Relative atomic mass : Cl = 35.5 ]

Element N Cl
Mass (g) 11.2 21.3

11 .2 21 .3
Number of moles (mol) =y = 0.6
X 35 .5

y 0.6
Ratio of moles =1 =3
0.2 0.2

Simplest ratio of moles 1 3

y
= 1
0.2
y = 0.2

11 .2
= 0.2
X
11 .2
X =
0 .2
= 56

C2 Molecular Formula

6. The following shows the steps in determining the molecular formula of a compound,
Step 1 : Get the Empirical Formula and the Relative Molecular Mass of the compound.

Step 2 : Assume that the molecular formula is (Empirical Formula)n

Step 3 : Calculate the value of n by using this formula :

n [Empirical Formula mass] = Relative Molecular Mass, Mr

n is positive integer
Step 4 : Next, replace the value of n into the assumed molecular formula.
Step 5 : Finally, write down the correct molecular formula.

Example :
Chapter 3 20 Chemical Formulae and Equations
4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3
Butane has the empirical formula of C2H5 and relative molecular mass of 58. Find its molecular
formula.
[ Relative atomic mass : H = 1; C = 12 ]
Assume that the molecular formula is (C2H5)n

n[2(12) + 5(1)] = 58

29n = 58
58
n =
29
= 2

The molecular formula of butane is (C2H5)2 or C4H10

Activity 11 :-
Chapter 3 21 Chemical Formulae and Equations
4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3

1. When 1.51 g of oxide of metal P is heated in hydrogen gas, 1.19 g of metal P is produced.
What is the empirical formula of the oxide of P?
[ Relative atomic mass : O = 16; P = 119 ]

2. 3.6 g of metal Q combined with 2.4 g oxygen to form a compound with the empirical formula
QO3. Determine the relative atomic mass of Q.
[ Relative atomic mass : O = 16 ]

Chapter 3 22 Chemical Formulae and Equations

4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3
3. θ g of vanadium combined with 8 g of oxygen to form an oxide with the empirical formula V2O5.
Determine the value of θ.
[ Relative atomic mass : O = 16; V = 51]

4. A compound contains 12.77 % of carbon 2.13 % of hydrogen and 85.10 % of bromine by mass.
(a) Find the empirical formula of the compound
(b) Given the molar mass of the compound is 188 g mol-1, determine its molecular formula.
[ Relative atomic mass : H = 1; C = 12; Br = 80 ]

Chapter 3 23 Chemical Formulae and Equations

4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3
5. A gaseous hydrocarbon R contains 80 % of carbon and 20 % of hydrogen.
6 g of this hydrocarbon occupies a volume of 4.48 dm3 at STP.
Determine :
(a) the empirical formula of R
(b) the relative molecular mass of R
(c) the molecular formula of R
[ Relative atomic mass : H = 1; C = 12 ; 1 mol of any gas occupies 22.4 dm3 at STP ]

Chapter 3 24 Chemical Formulae and Equations

4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3

 Determining the Empirical Formula of Metal Oxides [Experiment]

There are two methods to determine the empirical formula of the metal oxides :
(i) reactive metals such as magnesium and calcium, can be determined by burning a
known mass of the metal in air/oxygen gas (oxidation).
(ii) metal oxides of less reactive metals such as copper, lead, tin and iron (ferum) can be
determined by heating a known mass of the metal oxide with dry hydrogen gas
(reduction).

☺ Discussion
There are two methods used to determine the empirical formula of the metal oxides :
Method I :
 Burning of magnesium in air/oxygen gas (oxidation). [ Mg is a reactive metal ]

Magnesium + oxygen gas magnesium oxide

2Mg + O2 2MgO

Thus magnesium changes colour from ……………………….. to …………………

 The precaution and safety steps to be taken :

• Magnesium ribbon must be cleaned with sandpaper before it was heated.
 This is to remove the layer of oxide on its surface.
• The crucible was covered with its lid when magnesium started burning.
This is to avoid the white fume (magnesium oxide) produced from being escape to the air.
• The crucible lid need to be opened once a while.
This is to allow oxygen gas to enter the crucible.
• The heating, cooling and weighing are repeated until a constant mass is obtained.
This is to ensure that all magnesium was reacted with oxygen (has change into magnesium
oxide)

Chapter 3 25 Chemical Formulae and Equations

4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3

Method II :
Copper(II) oxide reacts with hydrogen gas (reduction). [ Cu is less reactive metal ]

Copper(II) oxide
Combustion tube

Hydrogen gas Hydrogen flame

Dilute
hydrochloric acid Asbestos paper
Heat

Zinc pieces Anhydrous calcium chloride

Copper(II) oxide + hydrogen gas copper + water

CuO + H2 Cu + H2O

Thus copper(II) oxide changes colour from ……………. to …………………

 The following are the precaution and safety steps to be taken :

• All the air in the combustion tube must be totally removed :
• before copper(II) oxide is heated / before heating process.
• the gas that comes out from the small hole of the tube is burnt.
 This is to prevent explosion! [a mixture of hydrogen gas and air will explode when lighted].
• The flow of hydrogen gas is continuous throughout the cooling activity, until the copper cools
down to room temperature.
This is to prevent the hot copper from reacting with the oxygen in the air to form copper(II)
oxide again.
• The heating, cooling and weighing are repeated until a constant mass is obtained.
This is to ensure that all copper(II) oxide has change into copper.

 This method can also be used to determine the empirical formula of metal oxides of less reactive
metals such as lead(II) oxide and tin(III) oxide.

 The empirical formula of copper(II) oxide cannot be determined by heating copper(II) oxide with
reactive metals such as magnesium or calcium, because both the reactants and products are solids and
cannot be separate at the end of the experiment.

Chapter 3 26 Chemical Formulae and Equations

4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3

D Chemical Formulae of Ionic Compounds [ Refer to Clinic Module 1 ]

1. Ionic compounds are compounds consisting of cations (positively-charged ions) and anions
(negatively–charged ions).
2. Ionic compounds are electrically neutral because the totals of positive charges are equal to the
total of negative charges.

Example :
Construct the chemical formula of :
(i) Sodium chloride
Name of compound Sodium chloride
+ -
The cation and anion present Cation : Na Anion : Cl
Charge of the ions +1 -1

Cross 1 1

Formula of compound NaCl

(ii) Magnesium nitrate

Name of compound Magnesium nitrate
The cation and anion present Cation : Mg2+ Anion : NO3-
Charge of the ions +2 -1

Cross 1 2

Formula of compound Mg(NO3) 2

(iii) Aluminium oxide
Name of compound Aluminium oxide
3+ 2-
The cation and anion present Cation : Al Anion : O
Charge of the ions +3 -2

Cross 2 3

Formula of compound Al2O3

Activity 12 :-
Write the chemical formulae of the following compounds :

(i) Potassium chloride : …………………… (vi) Copper(II) sulphate : …………………………

(ii) Zinc bromide : …………………………. (vii) Sodium hydroxide : ………………………….

(iii) Sodium oxide : ………………………… (viii) Barium hydroxide : …………………………..

(iv) Silver nitrate : …………………………. (ix) Iron(III) oxide : ………………………………

(v) Aluminium hydroxide : ………………... (x) Tin(II) chloride : ………………………………..

Chapter 3 27 Chemical Formulae and Equations

4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3

E Chemical Equations [ Refer to Clinic Module 2 ]

• Chemical equation is a representation of a chemical reaction in word or using chemical

formulae.
• It is a precise description of a chemical reaction.
• Chemical reaction occurs when the reactants react to produce products.

CuO(s) + H2(g) → Cu(s) + H2O(ℓ)

Reactants → Products

A balanced chemical equation has the following characteristic : [ Refer to Clinic Module 2 ]
 the correct formulae for reactants and products of the reaction.
 the same number of atom of each elements on the right and the left.

Activity 13 :-
1. Write a chemical equation in word for each of the following reactions :
(i) When solid zinc carbonate is heated strongly, it decomposed into solid zinc oxide and carbon
dioxide gas is released.

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(ii) Ammonia gas reacts with hydrogen chloride gas to produce ammonium chloride fume.

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(iii) A solution of lead(II) nitrate is added to a solution of potassium iodide. Yellow precipitate of
lead(II) iodide and a solution of potassium nitrate are produced.

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2. Write a balanced equation using chemical formulae for each of the following reaction :
(i) Carbon monoxide gas + oxygen gas → carbon dioxide gas

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(ii) Nitrogen gas + hydrogen gas → ammonia

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(iii) Aluminium + iron(III) oxide → Aluminium oxide + iron

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(iv) Silver nitrate solution is added to calcium chloride. Silver chloride precipitate and calcium
nitrate solution is produced.

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(v) When aluminium nitrate is heated strongly, it decomposes into aluminium oxide, nitrogen
dioxide and oxygen gas.
Chapter 3 28 Chemical Formulae and Equations
4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Qualitative and Quantitative aspects of chemical equations

Given that,

2H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O(ℓ)

Qualitative aspects :

 The reactants are …………… and ……………….

 The product is ……………

 The reactants are …………… gas and ………………. gas reacted to form ………… in liquid
state as a product.

Quantitative aspects :

2H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O(ℓ)

 2 mol of hydrogen react with 1 mol of oxygen to produce 2 mol of water..

Activity 14 :-
Based on the following equation, answer all the questions below :

Na2SO4(aq) + BaCl2(aq) BaSO4(s) + 2NaCl(aq)

(a) The reactants of the reaction are ………………………. and …………….……….

(b) The products of the reaction are …………………….…. and ……………….…….

(c) Qualitative aspects:

The reactants, aquoueos solution of ………………………………and aquoueos solution of
………………………… are reacted to form ……………………… in solid state and
………………………… in aquoueos solution state as the products.

(d) Quantitative aspects :

(i) Based on the equation :

……..…. mol of Na2SO4 react with ……..…. mol of BaCl2

(ii) When 1 mol of Na2SO4 is reacted, ……..…. mol of BaSO4 is produced.

(iii) When 0.5 mol of Na2SO4 is reacted, ……..…. mol of NaCl is produced.
Chapter 3 29 Chemical Formulae and Equations
4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3

(iv) When …..……. mol of BaCl2 is reacted, 2.5 mol of BaSO4 is produced.

(v) When …..……. mol of BaCl2 is reacted, 0.25 mol of NaCl is produced.

(vi) If 2 mol of BaSO4 is produced, …..……. mol of Na2SO4 is reacted.

(vii) If 0.5 mol of NaCl is produced, …..……. mol of Na2SO4 is reacted.

(viii) If …..……. mol of BaSO4 is produced, 3 mol of NaCl also produced.

☺Solving problems using chemical equations [Refer to CLINIC MODULE 5]

1. Stoichiometry is a study of quantitative composition of substances involved in chemical
reactions.
2. The coefficients in a balanced equation tell us the exact proportions of reactants and products in a
chemical reaction.

Example 1 :
Aluminium reacts with copper(II) oxide according to the following equation :

2Al + 3CuO → Al2O3 + 3Cu

Calculate the mass of aluminium required to react completely with 12 g of copper(II) oxide.
[ Relative atomic mass : O = 16; Al = 27; Cu = 64 ]

12
Number of mole of CuO = 64 +16

= 0.15 mol

From the equation :

3 mol of CuO react with 2 mol of Al.
Therefore :
1.5 mol of CuO react with 1 mol of Al.
So,
0.15 mol of CuO react with 0.1 mol of Al.

 Number of mole of Al2O3 used = 0.1 mol

Mass of Al = 0.1 × 27
= 2.7 g

Chapter 3 30 Chemical Formulae and Equations

4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3

Example 2 :

A student heats 20 g of calcium carbonate strongly. It decomposes according to the equation below.

CaCO3(s) → CaO(s) + CO2(g)

(i) If the carbon dioxide produced is collected at room conditions, what is its volume?
(ii) Calculate the mass of calcium oxide produced.
[Relative atomic mass : C = 12; O = 16; Ca = 40; Molar volume of gas = 24 dm3 mol-1 at room
conditions]

20
(i) Number of mole of CaCO3 =
40 +12 +3(16 )
= 0.2 mol

From the equation :

 1 mol of CaCO3
produced 1 mol of CO2
 0.2 mol of
CaCO3 produced 0.2 mol of CO2

Volume of CO2 = 0.2 × 24

= 4.8 dm-3 @ 4,800 cm3

(ii) From the equation :

 1 mol of CaCO3
produced 1 mol of CaO
 0.2 mol of
CaCO3 produced 0.2 mol of CaO

Mass of CaO = 0.2 × [ 40 + 16 ]

= 11.2 g

Activity 15 :-

1 The following equation is not balanced.

Na2SO4(aq) + BaCl2(aq) BaSO4(s) + NaCl(aq)

(a) Identify the reactants and products of the reaction.

Reactants : …………………………………………………………………………….

Products : …………………………………………………………………………….

(b) Write the balance equation

……………………………………………………………………………………………
Chapter 3 31 Chemical Formulae and Equations
4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3

(c) Calculate :

(i) the number of moles of sodium sulphate that react completely with a solution
containing 2.08 g of barium chloride.
[ Relative atomic mass : Cl = 35.5; Ba = 137 ]

(ii) the mass of barium sulphate formed when 50 cm3 of 2.0 mol dm-3 sodium sulphate
solution is reacted with excess barium chloride solution.
[ Relative atomic mass : O = 16; S = 32; Ba = 137 ]

2 The following equation shows the decomposition of potassium chlorate(V) by heat :

KClO3 KCl + O2

(a) Balance the given equation.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

(b) Based on the balanced equation, calculate the volume of oxygen gas produced at room
conditions from the decomposition of 24.5 g of potassium chlorate(V).
[ Relative atomic mass : O = 16; Cl = 35.5; K = 39
Molar volume of gas: 24.0 dm3 mol-1 at room conditions]

Chapter 3 32 Chemical Formulae and Equations

4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3

3 When chlorine gas is passed over heated X wool, a chloride compound with 34.5 % X by mass is
formed.
[ Relative atomic mass : Cl = 35.5; X = 56 ]

(a) Determine the empirical formula of the chloride compound.

(b) If the relative formula mass of the chloride compound formed is 162.5, what is the molecular
formula of the chloride compound?

(c) Write an equation for the reaction between X and chlorine gas.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

(d) Calculate the mass of the chloride compound produced when 11.2 g X reacts completely with
chlorine.

Chapter 3 33 Chemical Formulae and Equations

4541 CHEMISTRY Chapter 3

END OF CHAPTER 3

Chapter 3 34 Chemical Formulae and Equations