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Chemical Formulas and Percent Composition: Lesson 2

This lesson discusses chemical formulas and percent composition. It defines a chemical formula as expressing the number and types of atoms in a molecule using subscripts. Percent composition is defined as the mass percent of each element in a compound when assuming 1 mole of the compound. Formulas are provided for calculating percent composition from molar masses and empirical formulas, which give the simplest whole number ratio of atoms in a formula. Molecular formulas give the exact number and type of atoms in a single molecule.

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141 views2 pages

Chemical Formulas and Percent Composition: Lesson 2

This lesson discusses chemical formulas and percent composition. It defines a chemical formula as expressing the number and types of atoms in a molecule using subscripts. Percent composition is defined as the mass percent of each element in a compound when assuming 1 mole of the compound. Formulas are provided for calculating percent composition from molar masses and empirical formulas, which give the simplest whole number ratio of atoms in a formula. Molecular formulas give the exact number and type of atoms in a single molecule.

Uploaded by

lucifer angel
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Lesson 2

Chemical Formulas and


Percent Composition
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
 Familiarize with Chemical Formulas
 Describe percent composition.
 Compute for the percent composition of a given molecule or
compound.

2.1 Chemical Formula


Definition 2.1.1 Chemical Formula
 A particle composed of two or more nonmetal atoms is a molecule.
 A chemical formula expresses the number and types of atoms in a
molecule.

Writing Chemical Formulas


 The number of each type of atom in a molecule
is indicated with a subscript in a chemical
formula.
 If there is only one atom of a certain type, no ‘1’
is used.
 Some chemical formulas use parenthesis to
clarify atomic composition.
o Antifreeze has chemical formula
C2H4(OH)2. There are 2 carbon atoms, 4
hydrogen atoms, and 2 OH units, giving
a total of 6 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms.
o Antifreeze has a total of 10 atoms.

2.2 Percent Composition

Definition 2.2.1 Percent Composition


The percent composition of a compound lists the mass percent of each
element.
General Chemistry 01 2

Recall:

Any sample of a pure compounds always consists of the same elements combined in
the same proportion by mass. This means molecular composition can be expressed in
at least three ways:
1. In terms of the number of atoms of each type per molecule or per formula unit –
that is, by giving the formula of the compounds
2. In terms of the mass of each element per mole of compound
3. In terms of the mass of each element in the compounds relative to the total
mass of the compound – that is, as a mass percent

In calculating percent composition,


 Assume 1 mole of the compound.
 Get the total mass or molecular weight of the compound
 Find the percent composition by using the formula:
MW element
%composition = x 100%
Total MW

2.3 Empirical Formula and Molecular Formula

Definition 2.3.1 Empirical Formula


 It is the simplest, whole number atom ratio of atoms in a formula.

In calculating empirical formula,

Note:
• 0.01 to 0.09 – round down
• 0.91 to 0.99 – round up

Definition 2.3.2 Molecular Formula


 the exact number and type of atoms in a single molecule of a
compound. 

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