Questions on Empirical and Molecular Formulae

1 What is the percentage by mass of nitrogen in hydrazine, N2H4? [2]

2 A hydrocarbon contains 85.63 % C and 14.37 % H. Calculate the empirical formula of the hydrocarbon.
[2]

3 A compound contains 47.35 % C, 10.60 % H, 42.05 % O. Calculate the empirical formula of the
compound. [2]

4 The empirical formula of a compound is CH2O. The relative molecular mass is 180. What is the
molecular formula of the compound? [1]

…………………………………………………

5 What is the percentage by mass of nitrogen in ammonium sulphate, (NH4)2SO4? [2]

6 A hydrocarbon contains 82.8 % carbon.

(a) Calculate the empirical formula of the hydrocarbon. [2]

(b) If the relative molecular mass of the hydrocarbon is 58, calculate the molecular formula of the
hydrocarbon. [1]

7 What is the percentage by mass of nitrogen in trinitrotoluene (TNT), C7H5(NO2)3?

A 32.1 B 18.5 C 12.3 D 6.17

8 A sample of a pure compound was found to contain only 0.250 g of hydrogen, 1.500 g of carbon and
8.875 g of chlorine. What is the empirical formula of the compound?

A CHCl3 B CH2Cl2 C CH2Cl D CH3Cl3

 Questions on Empirical and Molecular Formulae
9 A compound, E, contains
Carbon 48.6 % Oxygen 21.6 %
Hydrogen 10.8 % Nitrogen 19.0 %

(a) Calculate the empirical formula of E. [3]

(b) Calculate the molecular formula of E if the Mr is 148. [1]

10 Copper is a pink-coloured metal found in sulphide ores as the mineral chalcopyrite. Laboratory
analysis shows that 15.15 g of chalcopyrite has the following composition by mass:

Copper 5.27 g
Iron 4.61 g

Sulphur is the only other element present.

Use these figures to find the empirical formula of chalcopyrite [3]

11 A chloride of tungsten contains 49.1% chlorine by mass. What is its empirical formula?
A WCl B WCl2 C WCl4 D WCl5

12 Of the following, the only empirical formula is

A N2F2 B C2H4O2 C C2H4O D C2H2

13 A compound consists of 87.5% nitrogen and 12.5% hydrogen by mass. The relative molecular mass of
the compound is 32.0. What is the molecular formula?
A NH2 B N2H3 C NH3 D N2H4

14 When a 5.932 g sample of an oxide of lead was heated in a stream of hydrogen gas, it was completely
converted to elemental lead with a mass of 5.379 g. What is the empirical formula for the original oxide
of lead?
A PbO B Pb2O C PbO2 D Pb3O4