40% Fe

30% C

Percentage
2% Ni 20% Si
Composition
8% Mn
 Percentage Composition
If the molar masses of a compound are known, the percentage
composition by mass of each element in the compound can be
calculated.

%Composition = x 100
 Practice Question
Calculate the percentage of hydrogen and nitrogen in water, H2O.
(R.A.M.: N= 14; H= 1; S= 32; O= 16)
Mr (H2O) = 16 + (2 x1) = 18 gmol-1 Mass of O = 16 g
Mass of H = 2 x1 = 2 g Percentage of O = 16 _ g x 100
Percentage of H = 2_ g x 100 18
18
.
= 11. 11 % .
= 88. 89 %
 Practice Question
Calculate the percentage of nitrogen in ammonium sulfate, (NH4)2SO4
(R.A.M.: N= 14; H= 1; S= 32; O= 16.)

Mr [ (NH4)2SO4 ] = 2 [14 + (4 x1)]+ 32 + (4 x16)

Mr [ (NH4)2SO4 ] = 2 (18) + 32 + 64 = 132 gmol-1

Mass of N = 14 x 2 = 28 g
Percentage of N = 28_ g x 100
132
.
= 21. 2 %
 Practice Question
Calculate the % composition of each element in copper sulphate.
R.A.M.: Cu= 64; S= 32; O= 16.
Mr (CuSO4) = 64+32 + (4 x16) = 160 gmol-1 Mass of O= 16 x4 = 64 g
Percentage of Cu = 64_ x 100 Percentage of O = 64_ x 100
160 160
= 40% = 40%

Percentage of S = 32_ x 100

160
= 20%
The
TheMOLE
MOLEand
andChemical
ChemicalFormulae
Formulae
 The MOLE and Chemical Formulae
A chemical formula shows how many moles of each elements are combined
to form one mole of a compound. For example, CO2 represents 1 mol of
carbon atoms combined with 2 mol of oxygen atoms.
Chemical formulae can be written in two main ways:

• The empirical formula. This gives the simplest whole number ratio between
the atoms or ions present in a compound. Ionic compounds are always
represented by the empirical formula.

• The molecular formula. This gives the actual number of atoms of each
element present in one mole of the compound. Covalent compounds are
represented by molecular formula
 Chemical Formulae:
Molecular Formula
The molecular formula of a chemical compound
indicates the type of atoms and the number of each
type of atom in a molecule of a compound.

C8H4O2
 Chemical Formulae:
Empirical Formula
The empirical formula is the simplest whole number ratio
between the atoms present in a compound. For C8H4O2 ,
the highest common factor of the number of atoms is 2.
Therefore the empirical formula would be C8H4O2, which
is the molecular formula divided by 2

C 4H 2O
 Empirical & Molecular Formulae
If the proportions of the elements, by mass in a
compound are known, then its empirical formula
can be determined. If the molecular formula is
different from the empirical formula, and we
know the relative molecular mass or molar mass
then we can calculate the molecular formula.
 1. When analysed, a compound by mass 50.0 g was
found to contain 18.3 g of sodium, 12.7g of sulphur and
WORKED EXAMPLE an unknown mass of oxygen. Determine the empirical
formula of the compound.
Mass of oxygen in the compound = 50..0 g – (18..3 +12.. .7) g = 19 .0 g
Na S O
Mass (g) 18..3 12.. .7 19 .0
Molar Mass (gmol-1) 23 32 16
Number of Moles 18.3/23 12.7/32 19..0/16
= 0..796 mol = 0..397 mol = 1..188 mol
Simplest Mole Ratio 0..796 mol /0..397 mol 0..397 mol /0..397 mol 1..188 mol /0..397 mol
2 mol 1 mol 2 mol

Empirical Formula Na2SO3

 2. A sample of a solid is decomposed and found to
contain 6.52g of potassium, 4.34g of chromium and
5.34 g of oxygen. What is the empirical formula of the
compound?

K Cr O
Mass (g) 6..52 4..34 5 .34
Molar Mass (gmol-1) 39 52 16
Number of Moles 6..52 /39 4..34 /52 5 .34/16
= 0..167 mol = 0..083 mol = 0..333 mol
Simplest Mole Ratio 0..167 mol/0..083 mol 0..083 mol /0..083 mol 0..333 mol/0..083 mol
2 1 4

Empirical Formula K2CrO4

 3. On analysis a sample of glucose was found to contain
40.0% carbon, 6.7% hydrogen and 53.3% oxygen. The molar
mass of the compound is 180 gmol-1 . Determine the
WORKED EXAMPLE molecular mass of glucose
We assume the mass of the sample to 100 g, so the percentage of each element is expressed in grams
C H O
Mass (g) 40 6..7 53.3
Molar Mass (gmol-1) 12 1 16
Number of Moles 40/12 6.7/1 53.0/16
= 3.3 mol = 6.7 mol = 3.3 mol
Simplest Mole Ratio 3.3 mol /3.3 mol 2 6.7 mol /3.3 mol 3.3 /3.3 mol
1 2 1

Empirical Formula CH2O

 3. On analysis a sample of glucose was found to contain
40.0% carbon, 6.7% hydrogen and 53.3% oxygen. The molar
WORKED EXAMPLE mass of the compound is 180 gmol-1 . Determine the
molecular mass of glucose
T o d e t e r m i n e t h e m o l e c u l a r f o r m u l a , w e m u s t c a l c u l a t e t h e m o l a r m a s s o f C H 2O

Mr (CH2O) = 12 + (2 x1) + 16 =30 gmol -1

Mr ( glucose) = 180 gmol -1

Ratio between Mr(glucose) and Mr(CH2O) = 180/30 = 6

Therefore, the molecular formula is 6 x the empirical formula
The molecular for glucose is C6H12O6
Combustion
A N A LY S I S

WORKED
EXAMPLES
 WORKED EXAMPLES

1. 1.50 g sample of hydrocarbon undergoes complete

combustion to produce 4.40 g of CO2 and 2.70 g of H2O.
What is the empirical formula of this compound?

1
STEP Find the mass of C carbon from the mass of CO2 given

STEP2 Find the mass of H hydrogen from the mass of H2O

STEP 3 Use % Comp. Table to determine the Empirical Formula

 1. 1.50 g sample of hydrocarbon undergoes complete
combustion to produce 4.40 g of CO2 and 2.70 g of H2O.
WORKED EXAMPLE What is the empirical formula of this compound?

STEP 1 Find the mass of C carbon from the mass of CO2 given

44 g of CO2 contains 12 g of C
4.4 g of CO2 contains 4.4 x 12
44
= 1..2 g of C
 1. 1.50 g sample of hydrocarbon undergoes complete
combustion to produce 4.40 g of CO2 and 2.70 g of H2O.
WORKED EXAMPLE What is the empirical formula of this compound?

STEP 2 Find the mass of H hydrogen from the mass of H2O given

18 g of H2O contains 2g of H
2.70 g of H2O contains 2.70 x 2
18
= 0..3 g of H
WORKED EXAMPLE

STEP 3 Use the % Comp. Table to determine the Empirical Formula

C H
Mass 1.2 0.3
Molar Mass 12 1
Moles 1.2/12 = 0.1 0.3/1 = 0.3
Mole Ratio 0.1/0.1 = 1 0.3/0.1 = 3
Empirical Formula The Mole Ratio is 1:3 so the EF is CH3
QUESTION 2
 x 2. A 0.250 g sample of hydrocarbon undergoes
complete combustion to produce 0.845 g of CO2 and
WORKED EXAMPLE 0.173 g of H2O. What is the empirical formula of this

1
compound?

STEP Find the mass of C carbon form the mass of CO2 given

44 g of CO2 contains 12 g of C
0.845 g of CO2 contains 0.845 x 12
44
= 0..23 g of C
 2. A 0.250 g sample of hydrocarbon undergoes complete
combustion to produce 0.845 g of CO2 and 0.173 g of H2O.
WORKED EXAMPLE What is the empirical formula of this compound?

STEP 2 Find the from the

18 g of H2O contains 2g of H
0.173 g of H2O contains 0.173 x 2
18
= 0..23 g of H
 2. A 0.250 g sample of hydrocarbon undergoes
complete combustion to produce 0.845 g of CO2 and
WORKED EXAMPLE 0.173 g of H2O. What is the empirical formula of this

3
compound?

STEP Use the % Comp. Table to determine the Empirical Formula

C H
Mass 0..23 0..0.19
Molar Mass 12 1
Moles 0..23 /12 = 0.019 0..019 /1 = 0.019
Mole Ratio 0.019/0.019 = 1 0.019/0.019 = 1
Empirical Formula The Mole Ratio is 1:1 so the EF is CH
QUESTION 3
 A 0.2500 g sample of a compound known to contain
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen undergoes complete
combustion to produce 0.3664 g of CO2 and 0.1500 g of
WORKED EXAMPLE H2O. What is the empirical formula of this compound

STEP 1 Find the mass of C carbon form the mass of CO2 given

44 g of CO2 contains 12 g of C
0.3664 g of CO2 contains 0.3664 x 12
44
= 0..099 g of C
 A 0.2500 g sample of a compound known to contain
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen undergoes complete
combustion to produce 0.3664 g of CO2 and 0.1500 g of
WORKED EXAMPLE

2 Find the
H2O. What is the empirical formula of this compound

STEP from the

18 g of H2O contains 2g of H
0.1500 g of H2O contains 0.1500 x 2
18
= 0..016 g of H
 A 0.2500 g sample of a compound known to contain carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen undergoes complete combustion to
produce 0.3664 g of CO2. 0.1500 g of H2O. What is the
WORKED EXAMPLE empirical formula of this compound?

Use the masses of the carbon and hydrogen to determine

STEP 3 the mass of the oxygen based on the original quantity

Mass of Oxygen = Total Mass of Compd. - (Mass of C+ Mass of H )

= 0.2500 - (0.016 + 0.099)
= 0.2500 – 0.115
= 0.135
 2. A 0.250 g sample of hydrocarbon undergoes
complete combustion to produce 0.845 g of CO2 and
0.173 g of H2O. What is the empirical formula of this
WORKED EXAMPLE compound?

STEP 4Use the % Comp. Table to determine the Empirical Formula

C H O
Mass 0.070 0.004 0.031
Molar Mass 12 1 0.002
Moles 0.006 0.004 0.002/12
Mole Ratio 0.006/0.002 = 3 0.004/0.002 =2 0.002/0.002=1
Empirical Formula The Mole Ratio is 3:2:1 so the EF is C3H2O
 A 0.2500 g sample of a compound known to contain carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen undergoes complete combustion to produce
0.3664 g of CO2 and 0.1500 g of H2O. a) What is the empirical formula
of this compound
WORKED EXAMPLE b) Given a molecular weight of approximately 108 g/mol, what is its

B
molecular formula?

Part Given the , what is its

STEP 1 Find the empirical formula mass (molar mass of the E.F.)
Determine the Mole Factor by dividing the MF = MFM
Molecular Formula Mass by the Empirical Formula Mass EFM STEP2

STEP 3 Use the molecular factor to multiply the E.F. to get the M.F.
 A 0.2500 g sample of a compound known to contain carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen undergoes complete combustion to produce
0.3664 g of CO2 and 0.1500 g of H2O. a) What is the empirical formula
of this compound
WORKED EXAMPLE b) Given a molecular weight of approximately 108 g/mol, what is its

B
molecular formula?

Part Given the , what is its

STEP 1 Find the empirical formula mass (molar mass of the E.F.)
Mr (C3H2O) = (12 x 3) + (2 x1 ) + 16
Mr (C3H2O) = 36 + 2 + 16
Mr (C3H2O) = 54 STEP 1
 A 0.2500 g sample of a compound known to contain carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen undergoes complete combustion to produce
0.3664 g of CO2 and 0.1500 g of H2O. a) What is the empirical formula
of this compound
WORKED EXAMPLE b) Given a molecular weight of approximately 108 g/mol, what is its

B
molecular formula?

Part Given the , what is its

Determine the Mole Factor by dividing the MF = MFM

Molecular Formula Mass by the Empirical Formula Mass EFM STEP 2
1. MF = MFM 2. MF = 108 g mo l-1
3. MF = 2
EFM 54 g mol-1
 A 0.2500 g sample of a compound known to contain carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen undergoes complete combustion to produce
0.3664 g of CO2 and 0.1500 g of H2O. a) What is the empirical formula
of this compound
WORKED EXAMPLE b) Given a molecular weight of approximately 108 g/mol, what is its

B
molecular formula?

Part Given the , what is its

STEP 3 Use the mole factor to multiply the E.F. to get the M.F.
Mole Factor x Empirical Formula = Molecular Formula
MF = 2 ( C3H2O)
MF = C6H4O2
NOW YOU
TRY!
TRY
 A 0.2500 g sample of a compound known to contain
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen undergoes complete
combustion to produce 0.3664 g of CO2 and 0.1500 g of
WORKED EXAMPLE H2O. What is the empirical formula of this compound

1
A 1.000 g sample of a compound is combusted in excess oxygen
No. and the products are 2.492 g of CO2 and 0.6495 g of H2O.
a) Determine the empirical formula of the compound.
b) Given that its molar mass is 388.46 g/mol, determine the
compound's molecular formula.
 A 0.2500 g sample of a compound known to contain
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen undergoes complete
combustion to produce 0.3664 g of CO2 and 0.1500 g of
WORKED EXAMPLE H2O. What is the empirical formula of this compound

No. 2 A carbohydrate is a compound composed solely of

carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. When 10.7695 g of an
unknown carbohydrate (MW = 128.2080 g/mol)
was subjected to combustion analysis with excess
oxygen, it produced 29.5747 g CO2 and 12.1068 g
H2O. What is its molecular formula?