General Chemistry
Lesson 7.1 Percent Composition
Chemical Formula
The combination of elements that make a
compound.
Element symbols and numerical subscripts
represent the number of each atom.
The chemical formula follows the Law of Definite
Composition.
It states that atoms combine in definite proportion
by mass.
Percent Composition
This refers to the ratio of the mass of an element and the mass of the
compound, multiplied by 100.
It is the composition of a compound based on the percentage of the elements
that comprise it.
It can be represented as the Percent by Mass of each element in a
compound.
Percent Composition from Experimental Data
The mass of the elements, as well as the compound, must be determined
first.
The mass of the compound is based on Experimental Data.
Tips!
If the mass of one of the elements that comprise the compound is unknown,
you can solve it by subtracting the mass of the element/s from the mass of
the compound.
Consider the number of significant figures of the given mass measurements
in expressing the final answer for the percent composition
Percent Composition Using Molar Mass
This takes the mass of the compound based on Molar Mass
The molar mass of the elements, as well as the compound, must be
determined first.
Molar Mass refers to the quantity in grams
that equals the atomic mass of the element
For example, carbon
○ atomic mass = 12.01 amu
○ 1 mol C = 12.01 g
Molar Mass of Element: atomic mass in periodic table
Molar Mass of Compound: multiply the molar mass of each element to its
subscript in the formula then add
Challenge Yourself!
Compute the mass of each element present in a 255 g C2H5OH?
Compute the percent composition of each element in each compound.
○ NaHCO3
○ Fe2O3
○ C7H5N3O6
Essential Question:
How can you determine the mass of the elements in a given sample of a
compound using the concept of percent composition?
Tell whether the statement is True or False.
1. The combination of atoms in a compound has no definite proportion by mass.
2. Chemists can determine the composition of a compound based on the
percentage of the elements that comprise it.
3. In obtaining the percent composition, the mass of the elements, as well as
the compound, must be determined first.
Let's Sum It Up!
In a chemical formula, the type and number of each atom in the smallest unit
of the substance are represented by element symbols and numerical
subscripts.
Each element contributes a fraction of a compound’s mass. This composition
may be expressed through Percent Composition or the ratio of the mass of
an element and the mass of the compound, multiplied by 100.
Before calculating the percent composition, the mass of the elements, as well
as the compound, must be determined first. The mass of the compound may
be given based on the experimental data or can be computed through its
molar mass.
The Molar Mass of an element is the quantity in grams that equals the
atomic mass of the element. To determine the molar mass of a compound,
multiply the molar mass of each element to its subscript in the formula then
add the results.
Lesson 7.2 Determining the Empirical Formula of a
Compound from its Percent Composition
Chemical Formulas
Written representation of the chemical proportions of atoms that comprise a
particular compound.
○ Empirical - gives the lowest whole - number ratio of elements
○ Molecular - gives the actual number of elements
○ Structural - shows the arrangement of atoms
Examples:
Remember
The empirical formula does not represent the total number of atoms that are
present in a molecule. The compound’s molecular formula should be the basis
in determining its actual number of atoms.
Determining the Empirical Formula
○ In an experimental data, the amount of each element is often given in
moles as fractions.
○ the lowest possible ratio of elements must be whole numbers.
Convert fractions into whole numbers by:
○ Dividing each subscript to the smallest given number in the experimental
data. If it is still a fraction, then
○ Multiply each by the smallest integer that will turn it to the smallest possible
whole number
To find the empirical formula of a compound in a shorter way, the chemist
measures the percentage by mass of each element in the compound. From
the percentage of each element in the compound, the chemist then
determines:
1. The number of moles of atoms of each element in 100g of the compound and;
2. The ratio of the moles of atoms
A simple rhyme can be used to remember the process:
○ Percent to Mass
○ Mass to Mole
○ Divide by Small
○ Multiply until Whole
Example 1: A compound is found to consist of 7.81% C and 92.19% Cl. What
is the empirical formula of the compound?
Step 1: Percent to Mass
If we have 100 g of the compound, 7.81 g and 92.19 g would be C and Cl,
respectively.
Step 2: Mass to Mole
All we have to do is convert these masses to moles of atoms.
Step 3: Divide by Small
Divide each mole value by the smallest number of moles calculated.
Example 2: What is the empirical formula for the compound with composition
52.9% Al and 47.1 % O?
Step 1: Percent to Mass
Assume a 100.0-gram sample of the compound. There would be 52.9 g of Al and
47.1 g of O in that 100.0 g sample.
Step 2: Mass to Mole
All we have to do is convert these masses to moles of atoms.
Step 3: Divide by Small
Divide each mole value by the smallest number of moles calculated.
Step 4: Multiply ‘til Whole
In case division by the smallest number does not lead directly to a whole-number
ratio, multiplication of each element by 2 can be done.
Tip:
If the mass of the compound is unknown and only its percent composition is
given, assume that its mass is 100 grams so that percentages can be directly
converted to grams.
Let's Practice!
A sample of an unknown compound contains 0.28 mol of zinc, 0.16 mol of
phosphorus, and 0.72 mol of oxygen. What is the empirical formula of the
unknown compound?
○ Therefore, the empirical formula of the unknown compound is Zn 7P4O18.
Analysis of a sample of an ionic compound yields 2.82 g of Na, 4.35 g of Cl,
and 7.83 g of O. What is the empirical formula of the compound?
○ The empirical formula of the compound is NaClO4.
Try It!
A sample of an unknown compound contains 1.25 mol of carbon, 0.50 mol of
hydrogen, and 0.25 mol of oxygen. What is the empirical formula of the
unknown compound?
What is the empirical formula of a compound that consists of 40.0 g of
carbon, 6.70 g of hydrogen, and 53.3 g of oxygen?
Essential Question:
Why is there a need to multiply the subscript that is still a fraction to the
lowest possible integer?
Challenge Yourself!
Vanadium oxide is an inorganic compound that is used as a catalyst in many
chemical reactions. Its mole ratio is calculated to be 2.50 mol O per 1 mol V.
What is the simplest formula of vanadium oxide?
Check Your Understanding!
Instructions: Read and analyze the sentences below. Determine whether each
sentence states TRUE or FALSE.
FALSE 1. The molecular formula is also known as the simplest chemical formula.
FALSE 2. The empirical formula of the compound also tells the actual number of
atoms present in it.
FALSE 3. The empirical formula shows the highest whole- number ratio of
elements that comprise a compound.
Instructions: Determine the empirical formula of the compound with the
following compositions.
1. 55.3% K; 14.6% P; 30.1% O
2. 52.14% C; 13.13% H; 34.73% O
3. 47.3% Cu; 52.7% Cl
Let's Sum It Up!
○ A Chemical Formula is a written representation of the chemical proportions
of atoms that comprise a particular compound. It may be expressed in three
ways - Empirical, Molecular, or Structural.
○ The Empirical Formula, also known as the Simplest Formula, shows the
lowest whole-number ratio of elements that comprise a compound.
○ There are two ways to determine the empirical formula of an unknown
compound. The first is by getting the ratio of the amounts of elements (in
mol) present in the compound, while the second one involves the use of
percent composition.
Lesson 7.3 Determining the Molecular Formula of a
Compound Using Its Molecular Mass
Transforming Empirical Formula to Molecular Formula
○ Empirical Formula of an unknown compound can be deduced using percent
composition data.
○
Molecular Formula indicate the actual numbers of atoms present in a molecule
of the compound.
○ Molecular Mass (MW) of an unknown compound can be experimentally
determined using a mass spectrometer.
Given an empirical formula, one can solve integer multiple, n, by:
Using the calculated n, molecular formula is easily determined.
Let's Practice!
Naphthalene is a common insecticide and deodorizer. It has an empirical
formula of C5H4. Provide its molecular formula given that its molecular mass is
128 g/mol.
○ The molecular formula of naphthalene is C10H8.
Ascorbic acid, commonly referred to as vitamin C, contains 40.9 % C, 4.58 %
H, and 54.51 % O, by mass. Using a lab instrument, the molecular mass was
determined to be 176 g/mol. What is the chemical formula for ascorbic acid?
○ The molecular formula of ascorbic acid is C6H8O6.
A 341-g sample of an unknown compound contains 59.7 g of sodium, 135 g of
chromium, and 145.3 g of oxygen. It was determined that the molecular mass
of the compound is 262 g/mol. What is the molecular formula of the unknown
compound?
○ Thus, the molecular formula of the unknown compound is Na 2Cr2O7 (sodium
dichromate).
Try It!
Octane, a major component of petrol gasoline, has an empirical formula of
C4H9. Determine the molecular formula given that its molecular mass is
114.1 g/mol.
Adipic acid contains 49.32% C, 43.84% O, and 6.85% H by mass. Determine
the molecular formula of adipic acid if a mass spectrometry analysis gave out
146 g/mol as the molecular mass.
A 200.0-g sample of the gaseous compound upon analysis contains 48.5 g
carbon, 50.5 g oxygen, and 101.0 g chlorine. Determine the molecular
formula of the sample given that its molecular mass was analyzed to be 197.8
g/mol.
Essential Question:
How come two or more molecules differ in properties despite having similar
empirical formulas?
How would you differentiate, upon the characterization, two or more compounds
that have a similar empirical formula?
Remember!
The subscripts of the determined empirical formula should be in whole numbers,
and any fractions or decimal values should be converted to whole numbers.
Check Your Understanding!
Identify each item described below.
1.This indicates the actual number of atoms or elements present in a molecule or
compound.
2.A multiplier or factor necessary to determine the molecular formula of the
compound.
3.It is the term used to describe the percent by mass of each element present in a
molecule or compound.
Solve the following.
1. Determine the molecular formula of an 18 g/mol unknown compound having a
percent composition of 88.9% oxygen and 11.1% hydrogen.
2. Calculate the molecular formula of a compound measured to have 80.1 g/mol
molecular mass and has a percent composition of 40.0% sulfur and 60.0%
oxygen.
3. An analysis of a sample of a compound showed that it contained 14.4% H and
85.6% C by mass. What is the molecular formula if the compound has an integer
multiple, n, of 8?
Let's Sum It Up!
○ An Empirical Formula shows the simplest whole number ratios of different
atoms in a molecule.
○ Molecular Formula shows the actual number of atoms present in a molecule
or substance.
○ The Molecular Mass or molecular weight indicates the overall mass of one
molecule of a non-ionic molecular substance. This is equal to the mass, in
grams, of one mole of a substance obtained by adding the atomic weights of
the individual atoms in a given formula.
○ The Integer Multiple, n, determines the molecular formula obtained from
the molecular mass ratios of the molecular formula and empirical formula.
Challenge Yourself!
An oxidized lead contains 90.65% Pb, by weight. Determine the molecular
formula if the compound has an integer multiple for the empirical formula is
2.
Key Formulas!
ANSWER KEY:
Percent Composition
Chemical Formula
Law of Definite Composition
Percent Composition
Percent by Mass
Percent Composition from Experimental Data
