CLASS XI

UNIT 1: SOME BASIC CONCEPT OF CHEMISTRY

PART 2- EMPIRICAL /MOLECULAR FORMULA
STOICHIOMETRY & LIMITING REAGENTS

Prepared By: Ms Sangeeta Misra, Ms Annie Abraham, Ms Preeti Gangahar, Ms Anju Sachdeva,
Ms Suruchi Bhardwaj and Ms Alinda H olla for the students of DPS R K Puram
PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION
As the heading suggests percentage composition deals with the mass of each element which exists
in 100 parts by mass of a compound.

Q1 What is the percentage composition of elements in CO2?

mass of the element in the compound x 100

Mass % of an element =
Molar mass of the compound
Molar mass of CO2 = 44g/mol

Mass % of carbon = 12 x 100 = 27.27%

44

Mass % of oxygen = 2 x 16 x 100 = 72.73%

44
Q 2 Calculate the percentage composition of all the elements present in oil of
vitriol ( sulphuric acid) ?

Ans. Sulphuric acid is H2SO4

Molar mass = 2(1) + 32 + 4(16) = 98 g/mol

Hydrogen = 2 x 100 = 2.04%

98

Sulphur = 32 x 100 = 32.65%

98
Oxygen = 64 x 100 = 65.3%
98
Q3 Analysis of a 12.04-g sample of a liquid compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, and
nitrogen showed it to contain 7.34 g C, 1.85 g H, and 2.85 g N. What is the percent composition
of this compound?
To calculate percent composition, the experimentally derived mass of each element is divided by
the overall mass of the compound, and then convert to a percentage:
Percentage of C= 7.34g ×100 = 60.9 %
12.04g
Percentage of H= 1.85 x 100 = 15.4%
12.04
Percentage of N = 2.85 x 100 = 23.7 %
12.04
Thus the compound is 61.0% C, 15.4% H, and 23.7% N by mass.
 EMPIRICAL AND MOLECULAR FORMULAE
● An empirical formula represents the simplest whole number ratio of various atoms present in a
compound.
● eg.CH is the empirical formula for C6H6 as well as C2H2
● H2O is the emp. formula of water
● HO is the emp formula of H2O2

● Molecular formula shows the exact number of different types of atoms present in a molecule of
a compound.
● If the mass percent of various elements present in a compound is known, then its empirical
formula can be determined.

● Molecular formula can further be obtained if the molar mass is known.

Molecular formula = Empirical formula x n
Steps in the calculation of Empirical Formula and Molecular formula
Step 1: Obtain the mass of each element present in grams. Element % = mass in g

Step 2: Determine the number of moles of each type of atom present.

Step 3: Divide the number of moles of each element by the smallest number of moles to get simplest
ratio

Step 4: Convert numbers to whole numbers in case they are fractions

Step 5: Divide the molar mass of the compound by the empirical formula mass. The result should be a
whole number or very close to a whole number. n = Molar mass/Empirical mass

Step 6: Multiply all the subscripts in the empirical formula by the whole number found in step 5. The
result is the molecular formula. MF = nEF. (Mol Mass for Gases = 2Vapour density).
The application of the above steps has been explained through an example in our next slide:-
 Eg.A compound contains 4.07 % hydrogen, 24.27 % carbon and 71.65 % chlorine. Its molar mass is 98.96 g. What are
its empirical and molecular formulas?
Step 1:- Conversion of mass percent to grams. As 100 g sample of the compound is present, the given % expresses mass of
elements in grams

Step 2:- Conversion into number moles of each element by dividing the masses obtained above by respective atomic masses of
various elements.

Moles of hydrogen = (4.07 g/1.008 g) = 4.04

Moles of carbon = (24.27 g/12.01g) = 2.021

Moles of chlorine = (71.65 g/35.453 g) = 2.021

Step 3:- To calculate the simplest molar ratio we divide the mole value obtained above by the smallest number of moles. Since
2.021 is smallest value, we divide all the no. of moles by it

H = 4.04/2.021 = 2 C = 2.021/ 2.O21 = 1 Cl = 2.021/2.021 =1

it gives a ratio of 2:1:1 for H: C: Cl.

In case the ratios are not whole numbers, then they may be converted into whole number by multiplying by the suitable
coefficient.
Step 4:- Write empirical formula by mentioning the numbers after writing the symbols of respective
elements. CH2Cl is, thus, the empirical formula of the above compound.

Step 5:- Writing molecular formula

(a) Determine empirical formula mass by adding the atomic masses of various atoms present in the
empirical formula.

For CH2Cl, empirical formula mass is =(12.01) + (2 × 1.008) + (35.453) = 49.48 g

(b) Divide Molar mass by empirical formula mass

n = (Molar mass/Empirical formula) = 99/49.48 = 2

n=2

(c) Multiply empirical formula by n obtained above to get the molecular formula

Empirical formula = CH2Cl, n = 2. Hence molecular formula is C2H4Cl2.

1st step 2nd step 3rd step 4th step 5th step

Divide % or mass of Divide number of moles Write the empirical Divide the Molecular Multiply Empirical
each atom with their with least number formula and calculate Formula Mass with formula with n
atomic mass (if the ans is not the the EF mass empirical formula mass
whole number then = Molecular formula
= number of moles of multiply with a suitable =EFM = coefficient(n)
each atom coefficient) telling how many times
is Molecular formula
= simplest ratio of more than Empirical
elements formula

Given: C = 54.3% , H = 9% and O = 36.7%. If molecular mass is 88 g/mol, what is the empirical and molecular formula

C= 54.3/12 = 4.52 4.52/ 2.29 = 1.97 =2 Empirical formula = n = 88/44 Molecular formula
H = 9/1 = 9 9/ 2.29 = 3.93 =4 C2H4O =(C2H4O) x 2
O = 36.7/16 = 2.29 2.29/2.29 = 1 =1 =2
E F Mass = 44 u = C4H8O2
 Q1 Determine the empirical formula of an oxide of iron which has 69.9% iron and 30.1% oxygen by mass.
Ans

% of iron by mass = 69.9 % [Given]

% of oxygen by mass = 30.1 % [Given]

(% of Fe by mass) (69.9)
Relative moles of iron in iron oxide = = = 1.25
(Atomic mass of iron) 56

Relative moles of oxygen in iron oxide = (% of oxygen by mass) = 30.1 = 1.88

(Atomic mass of oxygen) 16
Simplest molar ratio of iron to oxygen: = 1.25 : 1.88

= 1: 1.5 = 2: 3

Therefore, the empirical formula of the iron oxide is Fe2O3.

Q2 A salt containing water of crystallisation gave the following percentage composition:Mg
= 9.76%, S = 13.01%, O = 26.01%, H2O= 51.22%. Calculate the empirical formula

Ans. Putting it into tabular form;

Element % Atomic/Mol. Moles=% / Mol Simplest ratio

mass mass

Mg 9.76 24 9.76/24=0.407 0.407/0.407 =1

S 13.01 32 13.01/32=0.407 0.407/0.407 =1

O 26.01 16 26.01/16=1.626 1.626 /0.407 = 4

H2O 51.22 18 51.22/18= 2.846 2.846 /0.407 =7

Thus the empirical formula is .MgSO4.7H2O

Q3 A welding gas contains carbon and hydrogen gas only. Burning a sample
of it in oxygen gives 3.38g carbon dioxide , 0.690g of water and no other
products. A volume of 10.0 L at STP of this welding gas weighs 11.6g.
Calculate(i) Empirical formula (ii) molar mass, and (iii) molecular formula of
the compound
(i)Amount of C in 3.38g of CO2= 12 x 3.38g = 0.9218g
44
Amount of hydrogen in 0.690g of water = 2 x 0.690g = 0.0767g
18
The compound has only C and H.
thus total mass of compound = 0.9218g + 0.0767g = 0.9985g

NOTE: As we have the mass of all elements present in the compound and
ratios, it is not essential to convert this to percentage.
We can calculate the empirical formula directly from these masses:
 Element Mass of Atomic Moles of element Simplest Simplest
element mass molar whole
ratio number
ratio

C 0.9218g 12 0.9218/12= 0.0768 1 1

H 0.0767g 1 0.0767/ 1= 0.07617 1 1

Thus empirical formula = CH

(ii)10 L of the gasat STP = 11.6g
Therefore 22.4 L of the gas 11.6 x 22.4 = 25.984g = 26g Molar mass = 26g/mol
10.0

(iii) Emp. form. Mass =12 + 1 = 13

n = Molar mass / emp formula mass = 26 / 13 = 2
Thus molecular formula = 2 x CH = C2H2
Q4. Calculate the empirical and molecular formula from the given data. Molecular mass of the
compound is 166 amu. The percentage composition is as follows; C = 57.8%, H = 3.6% and the rest is
oxygen

Ans

Element Percentage At mass No. of moles Ratio of moles Simplest ratio

C 57.8 12 57.8/12 = 4.82 4.82/2.41 = 2 4

H 3.6 1 3.6/ 1 = 3.6 3.6/2.41 = 1.49 3

O 100 -( 57.8 + 3.6) 16 38.6/16 = 2.41 2.41/2.41 = 1 2

= 38.6

Emp. formula = C4H3O2

Emp formula mass = 83 n = 166/83 = 2

Thus mol. Formula = C8,H6O4
HOME WORK: Solve this numerical in your HW copy

1) A compound on analysis gave the following percentage composition: Na = 14.31%, S = 9.97%, H

= 6.22% and O = 69.5%. Calculate the molecular formula of the compound on the assumption
that all the hydrogens in the compound are present in combination with Oxygen as water of
crystallisation. The molecular mass of the compound is 322 ( At mass: Na = 23 u, S = 32 u, H = 1
u and O - 16 u)
Element Mass of Atomic Moles of Simplest molar EMPIRICAL
element(%) mass element ratio FORMULA
Na 14.31 23 14.31/23=0.62 0.62/0.31= 2

S 9.97 32 9.97/32=0.31 0.31/0.31=1 Na2SH20O14

H 6.22 1 6.22/1=6.2 6.22/0.31=20

O 69.50 16 69.5/16=4.34 4.34/0.31=14

Empirical formula mass = 2x23 + 32+ 20x1+ 14x16 = 322 and Given molecular mass = 322
EF mass 322
Thus n = = =1 Molecular formula = (Na2SH20O14 )
MM 322
As all H is present as water of crystallisation

Molecular formula = (Na2SO4 .10 H2O)

 Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is derived from two greek words --

Stoicheion (meaning element) and metron meaning (measure)

Stoichiometry deals with the calculation of amount (masses,volumes,

moles) of the reactants and products in a chemical reaction

Make sure that the chemical equation is balanced

Consider the following reaction:

CaCO3 + 2HCl → CaCl2 + H2O + CO2

Moles 1 mole 2 moles 1 mole 1 mole 1 mole

GMW 100 g 2 x 36.5 =73 g 111 g 18 g 44 g

No of molecules NA 2 NA NA NA NA

Volume - - - - 22.4 L

Can you calculate a) the volume of CO2 produced b) amount of HCl needed c) amount of water
formed if we take 10 g CaCO3?
Q1 Calculate the mass of KCl produced when 3 moles of KClO3 is heated strongly.
SOLUTION
Balanced chemical equation for the above reaction is:

2 KClO3 → 2 KCl + 3O2

(2 moles) (2 moles)

According to the balanced equation :

2 moles of KClO3 produces 2 mols of KCl

1mole of KClO3 produces 1 mol of KCl

3 moles of KClO3 produces 3 mols of KCl

Mass of 3 moles of KCl is = 3 x molar mass of KCl = 3 x 74.5 = 223.5 g

 Q2 a)Calculate the mass of water produced by the combustion of 32 g of methane

b) Calculate the volume of CO2 produced

b) 1 mol of CH4 produces = 1 mol of CO2
SOLUTION CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O
2 mol of CH4 produces 2 mol of CO2
(molar mass of CH4 = 16g/mol)
Thus, No of moles of methane = 32/16 = 2 Because,

According to stoichiometry: 1 mol of CO2 at STP occupies 22.4L

1 mol of CH4 on combustion produces = 2 mols of H2O Thus 2 mol of CO2 at STP occupies:

2x2 = 2 x 22.4 L = 44.8 L

so 2 mol of CH4 on combustion produces = = 4 mols of H2O
1

mass of 4 mols of H2O = 4 x molar mass of H2O

= 4 x 18 = 72 g of H2O
Q3) Calculate the amount of KClO3 needed to supply sufficient oxygen for completely burning 112 L of CO
gas at STP. ( At mass K = 39 u, Cl = 35.5 u, O = 16 u)

Ans: Calculation of O2 gas required to burn 112 L

2 KClO3 → 2 KCl +3 O2
CO:
(2 mol) (3 mol)
CO + ½ O2 → CO2
1 mol 0.5 mol Molecular mass KClO3 = 39 + 35.5 + 48 = 122.5 g/mol
(22.4L) Thus 2 moles KClO3 = 2 x 122.5 = 245 g

Thus, at STP 3 moles O2 is produced from = 245 g KClO3

22.4 L CO requires = 0.5 mole O2
245 x 2.5
0.5 x 112
2.5 moles O2 will produce from=
112 L CO requires = = 2.5 mol O2
22.4 3

This O2 is to be obtained by heating KClO3. = 204.16 g

Q4) What volume of air at STP containing 21% of oxygen by volume is required to completely
burn 1000 g of sulphur containing 4% incombustible matter?

SOLUTION: if 4% is incombustible substance is present, But, Oxygen in air is only 21% by

then the combustible part is 96% volume
96 x 1000 672 x 100
In 1000 g S, combustible amount in sulphur=
100 Volume of air required =
= 960 g 21
S + O2 → SO2
= 3200 L
At STP, 32 g of sulphur require oxygen = 22.4 L

960 g of sulphur require oxygen = 22.4 x 960

32
= 672 L O2.
Q 5) 1 g of a mixture of carbonates of calcium and magnesium on decomposition gave 240 ml of CO2
at STP. Calculate the percentage composition of the mixture ( Molecular mass CaCO3 = 100 g/mole,
MgCO3 = 84 g/mole)
Ans: If amount of CaCO3 in the mixture = X g
Total Volume of CO2 = 240 ml
amount of MgCO3 in the mixture =(1- X) g
22400 X 22400(1-X)
CaCO3 → CaO + CO2
+ = 240 ml
100 g 22400ml
100 84
X ??
MgCO3 → MgO + CO2
X = 0.625 g
84 g 22400ml
1-X ??
CaCO3 in the mixture = X = 0.625 g
100 g CaCO3 gives 22400 ml CO2
amount of MgCO3 in the mixture =1- X = 1- 0.625
= 0.375 g
X g CaCO3 gives 22400 X/100 ml CO2,
Similarly:
% CaCO3 = 0.625 x 100 / 1 = 62.5
84 g MgCO3 gives 22400 ml CO2
% MgCO3 = 0.375 x 100 / 1 = 37.5
(1- X) g MgCO3 gives 22400 (1-X)/84 ml CO2,
LIMITING REAGENT

During a chemical reaction if the reactants are not in the amount or proportion as required by a balanced
chemical equation then the reactant which is present in lesser amount or proportion ,gets consumed early
and limits the amount of product formed and is thus called as limiting reagent

LIMITING REACTANT :

It is the reactant that limits the extent of the reaction and determines the amount of product formed. It
gets consumed completely during the reaction.

EXCESS REACTANT : The reactants that are left over when a reaction stops

H2 + Cl2 → 2HCl

In the balanced eqn → 2g 71g ??

Experimental quantities → 2g 35.5g ??

Q1 The reaction 2C +O2 → . 2CO is carried out by taking 24 g of carbon and 96 g of O2.
a)Which is the limiting reactant?
b) Which reactant is in excess and how much of it is left unreacted ?
c)Calculate the amount of carbon monoxide formed

SOLUTION: 2C + O2 → . 2CO Thus amount of excess reagent (O2) :

Moles of C = 24/12 = 2 Moles of O2= 96/32 = 3 = 3 mols - 1 mols = 2 mol
a) Acc to the balanced equation;: c) Amount of CO formed is controlled by LR
2 moles of C requires 1 mol of O2 2 moles of C give 2 x 28 g of CO
As 3 mols, of O2 is given and C is still 2 moles,thus = 56g of CO
O2 is in excess Thus Carbon is the limiting reagent

b) Excess reagent is O2

2 moles of C have used 1 mole of O2

Q 2) If 20 g of calcium carbonate is treated with 20 g of HCl ,how many grams of CO2 can be
produced according to the reaction : CaCO3 + 2 HCl → CaCl2 + H2O + CO2

SOLUTION CaCO3 + 2 HCl → CaCl2 + H2O + CO2 According to stoichiometry

100g 2 x 36.5 g 44g
100 g of CaCO3 produces 44 g of CO2
Molar mass of CaCO3 is 100 g/mol
Molar mass of HCl is 36.5 g/mol 20 g of CaCO3 produces 44 x 20/100

According to stoichiometry = 8.8 g of CO2

100 g of CaCO3 requires = 73 g of HCl

20 g of CaCO3 requires 73 x 20 / 100 g =14.6 g of HCl

But amount of HCl provided is 20 g

So HCl is excess reagent and CaCO3 is the limiting

reagent
Q3) If 50 kg of N2 and 10 kg of H2 gas are mixed together to produce ammonia gas
a) Identify the limiting reactant
b) Calculate the amount of NH3 (g) formed

Solution H2PROVIDED IS : 5.0x103 moles ,

N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3 so H2 is the limiting reagent
Moles of Nitrogen = mass in g /molar mass and N2 is the excess reagent
= 50 x 103 /28
= 1.786x103 moles b) 3 mol of H2 gives = 2 mol NH3
Moles of Hydrogen=10x 103 /2 5X103 mol of H2 gives
= 5.0x103 moles
= 2 x 5 x103 / 3 mol
a) According to the balanced equation
1 mol of N2 requires 3 mols of H2 =3.3 x 103 mol NH3

1.786 X103 mol of N2 requires = 3 X 1.786 x103 Mass of NH3 formed = moles x molarmass
= 3.3 x 103 x17
= 5.36x103 moles of H2 = 56.1 kg
Q4 ) In the reaction 2 A + 4 B → 3 C + 4 D , when 5 moles of A react with 6 moles of B ,
then i) which is the limiting reagent ? ii) calculate the amount of C formed ?
Solution According to the given equation ,2 A + 4 B → 3 C + 4 D

2 moles of A react with 4 moles of B

5 moles of A will react with = 4 X 5 /2 = 10 moles of B.

(But we have only 6 moles of B ).
i) B is the limiting reactant

6 moles of B will react 3 moles of A and 2 moles of A will be left unreacted.

ii) The amount of C formed will depend upon the limiting reactant i.e, 6 moles of B
4 moles of B form C = 3 moles

Therefore, 6 moles of B will form C = ¾ x 6 = 4.5 moles

Q4) 3.0 g of H2 react with 29.0 g of O2 to yield H2O . 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O
a) Which is the limiting reagent
b) Calculate the maximum amount of H2O that can be formed
c) Calculate the amount of one of the reactants which remain unreacted
Ans: Moles of H2 = 3/2 = 1.5 b) Calculate the maximum amount of H2O:

Moles of O2 = 29/32 = 0.906 2 mols H2 forms 2 mols H2O

a) Calculation of limiting reagent: 1.5 mols H2 will form 1.5 mols H2O

According to the balanced equation: Amount of H2O = 1.5 x 18 = 27 g

2 moles H2 requires 1 mole O2 c) Calculation of the excess reagent left:

Moles of O2 taken = 0.906
1.5 moles H2 requires = 1.5 / 2 = 0.75 mol O2
Moles of O2 Used = 0.75
But moles of O2 present are 0.906,
Moles of O2 left = 0.906 - 0.75 = 0.156
Thus, O2 is the excess reagent and H2 is the limiting
reagent Amount of O2 left = 0.156 x 32 = 4.992 g or 5 g
PERCENTAGE PURITY
Percentage purity of a substance can be calculated by dividing the mass of the pure
chemical by the total mass of the sample, and then multiplying this number by 100.

Amount of pure sample x 100

% Purity =
Amount of impure sample
Q An impure sample of sodium chloride which weighed 1.20g on treatment with excess of AgNO3
solution gave 2.40g of silver chloride as a precipitate. Calculate the percentage purity of the
sample.
Now ,
Soln : NaCl + AgNO3 → AgCl + NaNO3 1.20 g of NaCl contain pure NaCl = 0.978 g

23+ 35.5 108+35.5

100 g of NaCl contain NaCl = 0.978/1.20 x 100
= 58.5 = 143.5 = 81.5 g
? 2.40 g
Percentage purity of sample = 81.5%
143.5 g of AgCl is obtained from 58.5 g of pure NaCl OR
Amount of pure sample x 100
Thus, 2.40 g of AgCl is obtained from % Purity =
Amount of impure sample

= 58.5x 2.40 / 143.5 = 0.978 g NaCl = 0..978 x 100 / 1.2 = 81.5 %

 HOMEWORK
Q1) How much iron can be obtained by reduction of 1kg of Fe2O3 .
(Ans 0.7Kg)

Q2) How much marble of 96.5% purity would be required to prepare 100 L of CO2 at STP when marble is acted
upon by dil.HCl (Ans 462.6 g)

Q3) What volume of oxygen at STP is required to effect complete combustion of 200 cm3 of acetylene and what
would be the volume of CO2 produced ( Ans i) 500cm3 ii) 400 cm3 )

Q4) Zinc and hydrochloric acid react according to the reaction: Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2 . If 0.3 mol of Zn is
added to 0.52 moles of HCl ,what volume of H2 is produced ? (Ans 5.8 L)

Q5) Calculate the mass of 50% H2SO4 required to decompose 10 g of CaCO3 (Ans 19.6 g)

Q6) When a mixture of 10 moles SO2 and 15 moles O2 was passed over catalyst, 8 moles of SO3 were formed> How
many moles of SO2 and O2 did not enter combination?

2 SO2 + O2 → 2 SO3 ( Ans unreacted SO2= 2 mol, O2=11mol)