Molecular and Empirical
Formulas
EMPIRICAL FORMULAS
An empirical formula is the simplest ratio that can exist
between elements in a compound. This is how you find the
empirical formula:
1. % to grams (change all % signs to grams)
2. Grams to moles (convert grams to moles using the molar
mass)
3. Divide by small (divide all mole numbers by your smallest
mole number)
4. Make it whole (either round to a whole number if it is very
close or use a multiplier to make it a whole number)
● Cannot have part of an atom! If you are left with a
fraction of an atom, you THEN will multiply to get a
whole number.
○ Multipliers:
4
■ .25 or 0.75 will be multiplied by ______
3
■ .33 or .66 will be multiplied by ______
2
■ 0.5 will be multiplied by ______
● REMEMBER: what you do to one thing, you must do to all!
EMPIRICAL FORMULA EXAMPLES
1. A compound is found to have 75.0 % Carbon, 25.0% hydrogen.
Determine the empirical formula of the compound
75g C 1 mole C = 6.25 mole C C=1
12g C 6.25 mole C
25g H 1 mole H = 25 mole H H=4
1gH 6.25 mole
E.F = CH4
2. The percent composition of a compound was found to be 63.5%
silver, 8.2% nitrogen, and 28.3% oxygen. Determine the
compound’s empirical formula.
Ag = 63.5g 1 mole Ag 0.589mol Ag Ag = 1
107.87g Ag 0.585mol
N = 8.2g 1 mole N 0.585 mol N N=1
14.01 N 0.585mol
O = 28.3g 1 mol O 1.77 mol O O=3
16g O 0.585mol EF = Ag(NO3)
3. An oxide of chromium is found to have the following percent
composition: 68.4% Cr and 31.6% O. Determine this compound's
empirical formula.
Cr = 68.4g 1 mole Cr 1.32 mole Cr Cr = 1
52.0g Cr 1.32 mole
O = 31.6g 1 mole O 1.98 mole O O = 1.49
16g O 1.32 mole
EF = CrO1.49 EF =2(CrO1.49) = Cr2O3
MOLECULAR FORMULAS - the actual number of each element
in the compound (not a ratio)
● The molecular formula can be determined only if the
molecular mass is known
1. Suppose the empirical formula for a compound is CH4, what is the
molecular formula if the molar mass of the compound is 48.0 grams?
Emp Form = CH4 Molec Form = ?
EF Molar mass = 16g Molec. Molar Mass = 48g.
Molec Form mass 48g
3
EF molar mass 16g
3(CH4)
Molecular Formula = C3H12
2. Suppose the empirical formula is HO and the molecular
weight is equal to 34.0, what is the molecular formula?
Emp Form = OH Molec Form = ?
mass = 17g mass = 34.0g
34.0g
2 2(OH) = H2O2
17g
3. The empirical formula for maleic acid is CHO. Its
molecular mass is 116.1 g/mol. What is the
molecular formula?
Emp Form = CHO Molec Form = ?
mass = 29g mass = 116.1g
116.1g
4 4(COH) = C4H4O4
29g
4. The empirical formula of a compound of phosphorus and
oxygen was found to be P2O5. Experimentation shows that the
molar mass of this compound is 283.89 g/mol. What is the
compound’s molecular formula?
Emp Form = P2O5 Molec Form = ?
mass = 141.94 g mass = 283.89g
283.89g
2 P4O10
141.94 g
