EMPIRICAL

Insert picture from AND

First page of chapter
MOLECULAR
FORMULAS

COPYRIGHT MCGRAW-HILL 2009 1

Objectives
• Define empirical formula, and explain how the term
applies to ionic and molecular compounds.
• Determine an empirical formula from either a percentage
or a mass composition.
• Explain the relationship between the empirical formula
and the molecular formula of a given compound.
• Determine a molecular formula from an empirical
formula.
Empirical Formula
Empirical vs. Molecular Formulas
◦ Molecular Formula – a formula that specifies the actual number of atoms
of each element in one molecule of a compound.
◦ Empirical Formula – a formula with the smallest whole-number mole ratio
of the elements that make up a compound.
Empirical Formula
Empirical Formula
◦ May or may not be the same as the molecular formula
◦ Molecular formula is always a simple multiple of the empirical formula
◦ ex. H2O2
◦ Empirical formula is HO
◦ Molecular formula is TWO times the empirical formula
 Empirical Formulas
The simplest ratio of elements in a compound
It uses the smallest possible whole number ratio of atoms present in a formula
unit of a compound
If the percent composition is known, an empirical formula can be calculated
Just remember this!!
Percents to grams
Grams to moles
Divide by smallest
Multiply ‘til whole
 How to calculate an empirical formula
How to calculate:
◦STEP 1: You will be given either masses or
percent composition.
◦STEP 2: If you are given % composition, turn it
into grams by assuming a 100.0 g sample.
NOTE: If you are given mass, you do not need
to do this step.
◦STEP 3: Convert the masses to the number of
moles of each element.
STEP 4: Figure out the proportion of moles of each element in the compound
by dividing each by the smallest number of moles.
STEP 5: If step 4 resulted in whole numbers, you are done! However, if there
were decimals, you will need to multiply by small, whole numbers until you
have whole numbers.
 Empirical Formula: Converting Decimal Numbers to Whole
Numbers

The subscripts in a formula are expressed as

whole numbers, not as decimals
The resulting numbers from a calculation
represent each element’s subscript
If the number(s) are NOT whole numbers,
multiply each number by the same small integer
(2, 3, 4, 5, or 6) until a whole number is obtained
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
Methyl acetate is a solvent commonly used in some paints, inks, and
adhesives. Determine the empirical formula for methyl acetate, which
has the following chemical analysis: 48.64% carbon, 8.16% hydrogen,
and 43.20% oxygen.
Step One: Percent to Mass
Let’s assume we have a 100. g sample of methyl acetate. This means
that each element’s percent is also the number of grams of that
element.
48.64% C = 48.64 g C
8.16% H = 8.16 g H
43.20% O = 43.20 g O
Step Two: Mass to Moles
Convert each mass into moles using the molar mass of each element.
48.64 g C x 1 mol C = 4.053 mol C
12.0 g C
8.16 g H x 1 mol H = 8.08 mol H
1.01 g H
43.20 g O x 1 mol O = 2.700 mol O
16.0 g O
Step Three: Divide by Small
Oxygen accounts for the smallest number of moles in the formula, so
divide each element by oxygen’s number of moles: 2.700 mol
Carbon: 4.053 mol / 2.700 mol = 1.501 = 1.5
Hydrogen: 8.08 mol / 2.700 mol = 2.99 = 3
Oxygen: 2.700 mol / 2.700 mol = 1.000 = 1

Remember, we will want whole-number ratios

Step Four: Multiply ‘Til Whole
In the previous slide, the ratio of C:H:O is 1.5:3:1
We need a whole-number ratio, so we can multiply everything by 2 to
get rid of the 1.5

C  3, H  6, O  2
So, the final empirical formula is C3H6O2
Steps for Determining the Empirical Formula of a
Compound
A gaseous compound containing carbon
and hydrogen was analyzed and found to
consist of 83.65% carbon by mass.
Determine the empirical formula of the
compound.

COPYRIGHT © CENGAGE LEARNING. ALL RIGHTS

15
RESERVED
Steps for Determining the Empirical Formula of a
Compound
A gaseous compound containing carbon and hydrogen was analyzed and found to
consist of 83.65% carbon by mass. Determine the empirical formula of the
compound.

Obtain the mass of each element present (in grams).

Assume you have 100 g of the compound.

83.65% C = 83.65 g C
(100.00 – 83.65)
16.35% H = 16.35 g H

16
Steps for Determining the Empirical Formula of a
Compound
2. Determine the number of moles of each type of
atom present.

1 mol C
83.65 g C  = 6.965 mol C
12.01 g C
1 mol H
16.35 g H  = 16.22 mol H
1.008 g H

COPYRIGHT © CENGAGE LEARNING. ALL RIGHTS

17
RESERVED
Steps for Determining the Empirical Formula of a
Compound
3. Divide the number of moles of each element by the
smallest number of moles to convert the smallest
number to 1. If all of the numbers so obtained are
integers, these are the subscripts in the empirical
formula. If one or more of these numbers are not
integers, go on to step 4.

6.965 mol C
=1
6.965 mol
16.22 mol H
= 2.33
6.965 mol
COPYRIGHT © CENGAGE LEARNING. ALL RIGHTS
18
RESERVED
Steps for Determining the Empirical Formula of a Compound

4. Multiply the numbers you derived in step 3 by the

smallest integer that will convert all of them to
whole numbers. This set of whole numbers
represents the subscripts in the empirical formula.

C: 1  3 = 3
H: 2.33  3 = 7
The empirical formula is C H7 .
3

COPYRIGHT © CENGAGE LEARNING. ALL RIGHTS

19
RESERVED
A way to remember those
steps:
A Poem by Joel Thompson:
Percent to mass
Mass to mole
Divide by small
Multiply ‘til whole
 EMPIRICAL FORMULA
1. Calculate the empirical formula from a sample containing
43.4% Na, 11.3% C, and 45.3% O.

smallest
43.4%  43.4 g Na (1 mole / 23 g/mol) =1.887 moles Na
11.3%  11.3 g C (1 mole / 12 g/mol) = 0.9417 moles C
45.3%  45.3 g O (1 mole / 16 g/mol) = 2.831 moles O

1.887/0.9417 =2.00 Na
2.831/0.9417 = 3.00 O .
9417/.9417 = 1.00 C

Empirical Formula = Na2CO3

 EMPIRICAL FORMULA
3. A compound was found to have a composition of 33.0 % Sr, 26.8 %
Cl, and 40.2 % water. Calculate the empirical formula of this hydrate.
smallest
33.0%  33.0 g Sr (1 mole/87.6 g/mol) = 0.3767 moles Sr
26.8%  26.8 g Cl (1 mole/35.45 g/mol) = 0.7560 moles Cl
40.2%  40.2 g H2O (1 mole/18.0g/mol) = 2.233 moles H2O

0.7560 / 0.3767 = 2 Cl 2.233 / 0.3767 = 5.9 = 6 H2O

Empirical Formula = SrCl2 . 6 H2O

 Calculating Empirical Formula
An oxide of aluminum is formed by the reaction of 4.151 g of
aluminum with 3.692 g of oxygen. Calculate the empirical formula.

1. Determine the number of grams of each element in the compound.

4.151 g Al and 3.692 g O

2. Convert masses to moles.

4.151 g Al 1 mol Al
= 0.1539 mol Al
26.98 g Al

3.692 g O 1 mol O
= 0.2308 mol O
16.00 g O
 Calculating Empirical Formula
An oxide of aluminum is formed by the reaction of 4.151 g of
aluminum with 3.692 g of oxygen. Calculate the empirical formula.

3. Find ratio by dividing each element by smallest amount of moles.

0.1539 moles Al = 1.000 mol Al

0.1539

0.2308 moles O = 1.500 mol O

0.1539

4. Multiply by common factor to get whole number. (cannot have

fractions of atoms in compounds)

O = 1.500 x 2 = 3 therefore, Al2O3

Al = 1.000 x 2 = 2
 Calculating Empirical Formula
A 4.550 g sample of cobalt reacts with 5.475 g chlorine to form a
binary compound. Determine the empirical formula for this
compound.

4.550 g Co 1 mol Co = 0.07721 mol Co

58.93 g Co

5.475 g Cl 1 mol Cl
= 0.1544 mol Cl
35.45 g Cl

0.07721 mol Co 0.1544 mol Cl

=1 =2
0.07721 0.07721

CoCl2
 Calculating Empirical Formula

When a 2.000 g sample of iron metal

is heated in air, it reacts with oxygen
to achieve a final mass of 2.573 g.
Determine the empirical formula.
 Calculating Empirical Formula
When a 2.000 g sample of iron metal is heated in air, it reacts with
oxygen to achieve a final mass of 2.573 g. Determine the empirical
formula. Fe = 2.000 g
O = 2.573 g – 2.000 g = 0.5730 g

2.000 g Fe 1 mol Fe
= 0.03581 mol Fe
55.85 g Fe

0.573 g O 1 mol O
= 0.03581 mol Fe
16.00 g

1:1
FeO
A sample of lead arsenate, an
insecticide used against the potato
beetle, contains 1.3813 g lead,
0.00672g of hydrogen, 0.4995 g of
arsenic, and 0.4267 g of oxygen.
Calculate the empirical formula for
lead arsenate.
 Calculating Empirical Formula
A sample of lead arsenate, an insecticide used against the potato
beetle, contains 1.3813 g lead, 0.00672g of hydrogen, 0.4995 g of
arsenic, and 0.4267 g of oxygen. Calculate the empirical formula
for lead arsenate.
1.3813 g Pb 1 mol Pb
= 0.006667 mol Pb
207.2 g Pb
0.00672 gH 1 mol H
= 0.00667 mol H
1.008 g H
0.4995 g As 1 mol As
= 0.006667 mol As
74.92 g As
0.4267g Fe 1 mol O
= 0.02667 mol O
16.00 g O
Molecular Formula
Molecular Formula – this tells us how many atoms of each type there
really are in the compound.
Can two substances have the same empirical formula but be different?
◦ YES! Benzene vs. acetylene: C6H6 vs. C2H2
◦ What is their empirical formula? How is this different from ionic
compounds?
Relating Molecular and Empirical
Formulas
A molecular formula
•is equal or a multiple of its empirical formula
•has a molar mass that is the product of the empirical
formula mass multiplied by a small integer
molar mass = a small integer
empirical mass
•is obtained by multiplying the subscripts in the empirical
formula by the same small integer

Basic Chemistry Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

31
Relating Empirical and
Molecular Formulas
n represents a whole number multiplier from 1 to as large as
necessary

molar mass ( g / mol )

n
empirical formula mass ( g / mol )

Calculate the empirical formula and the mass of the

empirical formula
Divide the given molecular mass by the calculated empirical
mass
◦ Answer is a whole number multiplier
Calculating a Molecular Formula from
an Empirical Formula

Basic Chemistry Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

33
 Calculating Molecular Formula
STEP 1:
◦ You will be given the molar mass of the compound and the empirical formula.

STEP 2:
◦ Calculate the empirical mass (mass of the empirical formula).

STEP 3:
◦ Divide the given molar mass by the empirical mass. You should get a small whole
number.

STEP 4:
◦ Multiply the subscripts of the empirical formula with the number obtained.
 Molecular Formula Example
STEP 1:
◦ The empirical formula is CH2O and the molar mass is 180.18 g.

STEP 2:
◦ The empirical mass is 12.01g + 2*1.01g + 16.00g = 30.03 g

STEP 3:
◦ 180.18 g/ 30.03 g = 6

STEP 4:
◦ CH2O becomes C6H12O6
Molecular Formula
A compound contains 24.27% C, 4.07% H, and 71.65% Cl. The molar
mass is about 99 g. What are the empirical and molecular formulas?

Basic Chemistry Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

36
 Solution
STEP 1 Calculate the empirical formula mass.
24.27 g C x 1 mol C = 2.021 mol of C
12.01 g C

4.07 g H x 1 mol H = 4.04 mol of H

1.008 g H

71.65 g Cl x 1 mol Cl = 2.021 mol of Cl

35.45 g Cl

Basic Chemistry Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

37
Solution
2.021 mol C(continued)
= 1 mol of C
2.021
4.04 mol H = 2 mol of H
2.021
2.02 mol Cl = 1 mol of Cl
2.021

Empirical formula = C1H2Cl1 = CH2Cl

Empirical formula mass (EM) CH2Cl = 49.48 g
Basic Chemistry Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

38
 Solution (continued)
STEP 2 Divide the molar mass by the empirical formula
mass to obtain a small integer.
Molar mass = 99 g = 2
Empirical formula mass 49.48 g

STEP 3 Multiply the empirical formula by the small

integer to obtain the molecular formula.
2 x (CH2Cl)
C1x2H2x2Cl1x2 = C2H4Cl2
Basic Chemistry Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
39
 Learning Check
A compound is 27.4% S, 12.0% N, and 60.6 % Cl. If the compound has a molar
mass of 351 g, what is the molecular formula?

Basic Chemistry Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

40
 Solution
STEP 1 Calculate the empirical formula mass.
In 100 g, there are 27.4 g S, 12.0 g N, and 60.6 g Cl.
27.4 g S x 1 mol S = 0.854 mol of S
32.07 g S

12.0 g N x 1 mol N = 0.857 mol of N

14.01 g N

60.6 g Cl x 1mol Cl = 1.71 mol of Cl

35.45 g Cl

Basic Chemistry Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

41
 Solution (continued)
STEP 2 Divide the molar mass by the empirical formula mass to
obtain a small integer.
0.854 mol S = 1.00 mol of S
0.854
0.857 mol N = 1.00 mol of N
0.854
1.71 mol Cl = 2.00 mol of Cl
0.854
empirical formula = SNCl2
empirical formula mass = 116.98 g

Basic Chemistry Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

42
 Solution (continued)
STEP 3 Multiply the empirical formula by the small integer to
obtain the molecular formula.

Molar mass = 351 g =3

Empirical formula mass 116.98 g

Molecular formula = (SNCl2)3 = S3N3Cl6

Basic Chemistry Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

43
Assignments
Succinic acid is a substance produced by lichens. Chemical analysis
indicates it is composed of 40.68% carbon, 5.08% hydrogen, and 52.24%
oxygen and has a molar mass of 118.1 g/mol. Determine the empirical
and molecular formulas for succinic acid.
Calculate Empirical Formula from
Percent Composition
Lactic acid has a molar mass of 90.08 g and has this percent
composition:
40.0% C, 6.71% H, 53.3% O
What is the empirical and molecular formula of lactic acid?
Assume a 100.0 g sample size
◦ Convert percent numbers to grams
 Calculate Empirical Formula from
Percent Composition
Convert mass of each element to moles
Divide each mole quantity by the smallest number of
moles
mol C 3.33
40.0 g C   3.33 mol C C:  1.00
12.0 g C 3.33
mol H 6.66
6.71 g H   6.66 mol H H:  2.00
1.008 g H 3.33
mol O 3.33
53.3 g O   3.33 mol O O:  1.00
16.00 g O 3.33
Empirical
The ratio of C to H to O is 1 to 2 to 1 formula is CH2O
Empirical formula mass = 12.01 + 2 (1.008) + 16.00 = 30.03 g/mol
 Formulas
Empirical Formula
for Compounds
◦ Smallest possible set of subscript numbers
◦ Smallest whole number ratio
◦ All ionic compounds are given as empirical formulas
Molecular Formulas
The actual formulas of molecules
It shows all of the atoms present in a molecule
It may be the same as the EF or a whole- number
multiple of its EF

Molecular formula = n х Empirical formula

 Determining the Molecular Formula

The molecular formula gives the actual numbers of

moles of each element present in 1 mol of compound.
The molecular formula is a whole-number multiple
of the empirical formula.

molar mass (g/mol)

= whole-number multiple
empirical formula mass (g/mol)
 Sample Problem 3.10 Determining a Molecular Formula from
Elemental Analysis and Molar Mass
PROBLEM: Elemental analysis of lactic acid (M = 90.08 g/mol) shows that
this compound contains 40.0 mass % C, 6.71 mass % H, and
53.3 mass % O. Determine the empirical formula and the
molecular formula for lactic acid.

PLAN: Assume 100 g lactic acid; then mass % = mass in grams

divide each mass by M

Amount (mol) of each element

use # mols as subscripts; convert to integers
Empirical formula
divide M by the molar mass for the empirical
formula; multiply empirical formula by this integer

Molecular formula
 Sample Problem 3.10

SOLUTION: Assuming there are 100. g of lactic acid;

40.0 g C x 1 mol C 6.71 g H x 1 mol H 53.3 g O x 1 mol O

12.01 g C 1.008 g H 16.00 g O
= 3.33 mol C = 6.66 mol H = 3.33 mol O

C3.33 H6.66 O3.33

CH2O empirical formula
3.33 3.33 3.33

molar mass of lactic acid 90.08 g/mol

=3
mass of CH2O 30.03 g/mol

C3H6O3 is the
molecular formula
Example
• Find the molecular formula of a compound
that contains 42.56 g of palladium and 0.80 g
of hydrogen. The molar mass of the
compound is 216.8 g/mol.
Example
• Find the molecular formula of a compound
that contains 42.56 g of palladium and 0.80 g
of hydrogen. The molar mass of the
compound is 216.8 g/mol.
Step1 Convert to moles
o 42.56 g Pd x 1 mole Pd = 0.40 mol Pd
106.42 g
o 0.80 g H x 1 mole H = 0.79 mol H
1.01 g
Example Continued
Step 2: Find mole ratio:
PD: 0.40/0.40 = 1
H: 0.79/0.40 = 2

• Step 3: Write empirical formula:

PD H 2
Example Continued
• We know that the molar mass of the
compound (given in question) = 216.8 g/mol

• Step 4: Find the empirical molar mass

IF EMPIRICAL FORMULA IS PDH 2 ,

THEN THE
EMPIRICAL MOLAR MASS =
106.42G/MOL PD +
2(1.01G/MOL H) = 108.44 G/MOL
Continued Once Again
• Step 5 Find, Molar Mass ÷ Formula Mass:

216.8 G/MOL = 1.995  2

108.44 G/MOL
**MOST IMPORTANT STEP
STEP 6:
FINALLY!!! NOW ADJUST THE
MOLAR FORMULA
PDH 2 BECOMES PD 2 H 4
Example Problem
NutraSweet is 57.14% C, 6.16% H, 9.52% N, and 27.18% O. Calculate the
empirical formula of NutraSweet and find the molecular formula. (The
molar mass of NutraSweet is 294.30 g/mol)
 Determining Chemical Formulas
Molecular Formula
Sample Problem
The empirical formula of a compound of phosphorus and
oxygen was found to be P2O5. Experimentation shows that
the molar mass of this compound is 283.89 g/mol. What is
the compound’s molecular formula?
A compound containing barium, carbon, and
oxygen has the following percent composition:
69.58% Ba, 6.09% C, 24.32% O. What is the
empirical formula for this compound?

What is the empirical and molecular formula of Vitamin D3 if

it contains 84.31% C, 11.53% H, and 4.16% O, with a molar
mass of 384 g/mol?