WHAT ARE EMPIRICAL AND

MOLECULAR FORMULAS? HOW DO

YOU DERIVE THEM?
Calculate the percent
composition of the elements in
a compound given its formula
Derive the empirical formula
from the percent composition
of a compound
Determine a compound’s
molecular formula from it’s
molar mass
DETERMINING PERCENT COMPOSITION BY MASS
Using the atomic mass and number of each element determine the molecular
mass of 1 mole of sucrose. Multiply the atomic mass and number of elements
and add the products to get the total

Number of Atomic Molar mass in 1 mole

Elements
Elements Mass Sucrose

Carbon 12 12.01 144.12 grams

Hydrogen 22 1.008 22.176 grams

Oxygen 11 16.00 176 grams

Total molar mass of

342.296 grams
sucrose
DETERMINING PERCENT COMPOSITION BY MASS
For problems that require you to find the percent composition of an element by
mass, it is essential that you find the molecular mass first if it is not given. You
will use molecular mass to find the percent composition of each element. Write
another table listing each element as well as their respective molecular masess
as you solved above:

Molar mass in 1 mole

Elements
sucrose

Carbon 144.12 grams

Hydrogen 22.176 grams

Oxygen 176 grams

DETERMINING PERCENT COMPOSITION BY MASS
Simple divide the total molar mass of each element in sucrose by the total
molecular mass of the compoun. The quotients you will get are decimals which
should be converted into percent composition by mass. Multiply the decimals
by 100 and you will get the percentage composition by mass of each element

Molar mass in 1 mole Percent composition by

Elements Quotient
sucrose mass

144.12/342.296=
Carbon 144.12 grams 42.1%
0.421

22.176/342.296=
Hydrogen 22.176 grams 6.48%
0.0648

176/342.296=
Oxygen 176 grams 51.4%
0.154
DETERMINING PERCENT COMPOSITION BY MASS
PRACTICE PROBLEM 6.1
Piperine, the major alkaloid compound of black pepper, has the formula C17H19NO3.
Determine the percent composition by mass of each element.

Step 1. List the element in a table as well as the number of each element. Fill out the table with
the atomic mass of each element as indicated in the Periodic Table.
DETERMINING PERCENT COMPOSITION BY MASS
PRACTICE PROBLEM 6.1
Step 2. Find the total molar mass of piperine. Multiply the number of each element of their
respective atomic mass and add the molar masses up.
DETERMINING PERCENT COMPOSITION BY MASS
PRACTICE PROBLEM 6.1
Step 3. Divide the molar mass of each element in the compound with piperine’s total molar
mass.
DETERMINING PERCENT COMPOSITION BY MASS
PRACTICE PROBLEM 6.1
Step 3. Multiply each quotient by 100 to get percent composition by mass.
How chemical formulas are determined
Chemists determine the formulas of these compounds by
decomposing them into elements and simpler compounds.
Chemists would then weigh each of the separated
components to find the mole ratio of each element compared
to the other. Once you have the mole ratios, you can figure out
the chemical formula

For example, you burned 0.458 grams of a certain oxygen-

containing compound. it produced 0.875 grams of CO₂.and
0.537 grams of H₂O.
How chemical formulas are determined
Add the sum of the masses of carbon and hydrogen. It is equal
to the mass of the original compound? If there is a discrepancy
between the sum and the mass of the original compound, the
difference in mass is equal to the mass of oxygen
How chemical formulas are determined
From the moles you obtained, which is the smallest one? Divide each mole
by the smallest mole figure. You will get the smallest-whole number ratio
between elements.

The whole number ratio you obtained will be the subscripts of the respective
elements in the original compound. Hence, the empirical formula is C₂H₆O
How chemical formulas are determined

Empirical formula indicates the exact number of atoms in a compound,

whereas the Empirical formula shows relative ratios of those elements.
How chemical formulas are determined
To determine the molecular formula from the know empirical formula first,
divide the molar mass of the compound by the given molar mass of the
empirical formula.
How chemical formulas are determined
Lindane, also called gammaxene is an organochlorine compound used as an insecticide
in agriculture. Lindane contains 24.78% carbon, 2.08% hydrogen, and 73.14% chlorine by
mass and has a molar mass of 290.81g/mole. Determine the molecular formula of lindane

Solution:

Step 1. Percentage Compositions can be expressed as decimals. Divide the percentage

composition of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and chlorine (Cl) by 100 to convert them into
decimals. Hence, carbon is 0.2478, hydrogen is 0.0208, and chlorine is 0.7314.

Step 2. To obtain the mass composition of each element in lindane, multiply the decimal
form of the percentages with the molar mass of lindane (290.81 g/mole). The resulting
values would be:
 How chemical formulas are determined

Step 3. Convert the masses of the elements in terms of moles

How chemical formulas are determined

Step 4. Divide all moles by the smallest mole (5.999) to obtain whole number ratios.

Step 5. The whole number ratios you obtained would serve as the subscripts for the
empirical formula of lindane. Hence, the empirical formula of CHCI. But you are asked to
find the molecular formula. Calculate first the molar mass of the empirical formula (CHCI).
Since there is no coefficient for each element you only multiply “1”.

Step 6. Since you were given the molar and empirical mass of lindane, you can obtain the
ratio between these masses:
 How chemical formulas are determined

Step 7. Multiply whole-number ratio n with the subscripts of your empirical formula.
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