Empirical and
Molecular
Formulas
Section 11.4
Chemistry
Objectives
Explain what is meant by the
percent composition of a
compound.
Determine the empirical and
molecular formulas for a
compound from mass percent
and actual mass data.
Key Terms
Percent composition
Empirical formula
Molecular formula
Percent
Composition
Percent by mass of each
element in a compound.
Mass of Element x 100
Mass of Compound
Example
Calculate percent composition
of H in H2O
Molar mass of water: 18.02
g/mol
Determine mass of H in 1 mol of
H2O
Mass of H
1.01x 2 = 2.02 g H in 1 mol
water
Atomic mass of H Number of H in H2O
from periodic table
Percent Composition
of H
2.02g of H x 100 = 11.2% H
18.02 g of H2O
Empirical Formula
Formula for a compound with
the smallest whole-number
ratio of elements.
Percent composition can be
used to find the chemical
formula.
Empirical Formula
When given percent composition,
assume:
The total mass of the compound is
100 g
The percent composition of the
element is equal to the mass in
grams of the element.
Example
A compound has a percent
composition of 40.05% S and
59.95% O.
So in 100 g of the compound,
40.05 g are S and 59.95 g are
O.
Find the amount of mol for each
element.
Empirical Formula
40.05g S x 1 mol S = 1.249 mol S
32.07g S
59.95g O x 1 mol O = 3.747 mol
O
16.00g O
Empirical Formula
The element with the smallest
number of mol gets the
subscript 1.
Empirical Formula
S has a subscript 1
Then divide the mol O by the mol S
3.747 mol O/ 1.249 mol S = 3 mol
O
Then write your empirical
formula using your subscripts:
SO3
Practice Problems
Pg. 333
Molecular Formula
Formula that specifies the actual
number of atoms of each
element in one molecule or
formula unit of a substance.
n = molecular formula mass
empirical formula mass
Example
Compound is composed of
40.68% carbon, 5.08% hydrogen,
and 54.24% oxygen and has a
mass of 118.1 g/mol. Determine
the empirical and molecular
formulas for succinic acid.
Example
40.68 g C x 1 mol C = 3.387 mol
C
12.01 g C
5.08 g H x 1 mol H = 5.04 mol H
1.008 g H
54.24 g O x 1 mol O = 3.390 mol
O
16.00 g O
Example
3.387 mol C/ 3.387 = 1 mol C
5.040 mol H/ 3.387 = 1.49 = 1.5 mol
H
3.390 mol O/ 3.387 = 1.001 = 1 mol O
Ratio of C : H : O = 1 : 1.5 : 1
Example
Empirical Formula: C2H3O2
Example
To find molecular formula, calculate
n.
n = molecular formula mass
empirical formula mass
Molecular mass is in the problem!
Calculate molar mass of empirical
Example
n = 118.1 = 2
59.04
Multiply the subscripts of the
empirical by n to find the molecular
formula.
Molecular Formula: C H O
4 6 4
Practice Problems
Pg 335
Homework
Section 11.4 Problems 27-
29 on page 877
