Empirical Molecular Formulas

Percent Composition &
Empirical & Molecular Formulas

• Objectives
• I can be able to:
a. determine the empirical formula of a
compound from its molecular formula or the
number of atoms present,
b. use a compound’s empirical formula and
molecular mass to determine its molecular
formula. 2
3 Steps for determining Chemical Formulas
1. Determine the percent composition of all elements.
2. Convert this information into an empirical formula
3. Find the true number of atoms/ elements in the
compound (Molecular Formula)
Elemental analysis is an analytical technique used to determine the percentage
by mass of certain elements present in a compound.
Percentage by mass
To work out the empirical formula,
the total mass of the compound is
assumed to be 100 g, and each
percentage is turned into a mass
in grams.
If necessary, the mass of any elements not given by elemental analysis is

calculated. The empirical formula of the compound can then be calculated as
normal.
How to Calculate % Composition
Percent Composition
Percent Composition from
Chemical Formula
To calculate the percent composition of a component in a
compound:
1. Find the molar mass of the compound by adding up the
masses of each atom in the compound.
2. Calculate the molar mass of the component in the
compound for which you are solving.
3. Divide the molar mass of the component by the total
molar mass of the compound and multiply by 100

Percent Composition
Percent composition
• Is the percent by mass of each element in a formula.
Example: Calculate the percent composition of CO2.
CO2 = 1(12.01g/mol) + 2(16.00 g/mol) = 44.01 g/mol)
12.00 g C x 100 = 27.27 % C

44.00 g CO2
2(16.00) g O x 100 = 72.73 % O

44.00 g CO2 100.00 %
STEP 1: Calculate Molar Mass
3C(12.00) + 6H(1.00) + 3O(16.00) = 90.00 g/mol
STEP 2: Calculate % Composition for each element
%C = 36.00 g C x 100 = 40.00% C

90.00 g
%H = 6.00 g H x 100 = 6.67% H

90.00 g
%O = 48.00 g O x 100 = 53.33% O

90.00 g
Molar mass C7H14O2 =
7C(12.00) + 14H(1.00) + 2O(16.00) = 130.00 g/mol
Total C = 7C(12.01) = 84.00g
%C = total g C x 100
total g
%C = 84.00 g C x 100 = 64.615 % C

130.00 g
Percent Composition from
Chemical Formula
• Calculate the percent by mass of nitrogen in
caffeine (C8H10N4O2)
• Step1
8C + 10H +4N + 2O
(8 x 12.0 g/mol) + (10 x 1.0 g/mol) + ( 4 x 14.0
g/mol) + (2 x 16.0 g/mol) = 194.0 g/mol

You Try…
What is the percent composition of lactic
acid, C3H6O3, a compound that appears in
the blood after vigorous activity?
The chemical isoamyl acetate C7H14O2 gives

the odor of pears. What is the percent
carbon in isoamyl acetate?
BRAIN BREAK: Hands
This Brain Break seems simple. However, you will find out soon that you will have a hard time
mastering it.
1. Stand Up.
2. Start by waving your right hand in front of you left to right. Your palm should be
facing away from you while keeping your hand with your fingers pointing up.
3. Now stop that hand and have your left hand in front of you waving it up and
down.
4. Now practice moving them at the SAME TIME. Do not move your hands going
diagonally.
5. Now switch to have your right hand up and down and your left hand left and
right. Do this faster and switch often to make it more difficult.
6. Lastly, to increase the difficulty, have your arms crossed while doing this.
Empirical Formulas
The empirical formula
• Is the simplest whole number ratio of the
atoms.
• Is calculated by dividing the subscripts in the actual
(molecular) formula by a whole number to give the
lowest ratio.
Glucose
C6H12O6  6 = C1H2O1 = CH2O
molecular formula empirical formula
Calculating Empirical Formula
1. If given % composition, assume 100 g of sample
2. Convert mass of each element to moles (gmol)
3. Divide each of these numbers by the smallest number
4. If necessary, multiply by the smallest number possible to
make each a whole number
5. These whole numbers are the subscripts in the empirical
formula called mole ratio
Example No. 1
• Caffeine is 49.48% C, 5.15% H, 28.87%

N and 16.49% O. What is its empirical
formula?
• 49.48g C 1mol = 4.1mol We divide by
12 g lowest (1mol O)
and ratio
doesn’t change
• 5.15 gH 1mol = 5.2mol
1g
1mol Since they are
• 28.87g N = 2.2mol
14 g close to whole
numbers we will
1mol use this formula
• 16.49 O = 1.0mol
16 g
C4.12H5.15N2.1O1
OR C4H5N2O1
empirical mass = 97g

Example No. 2
• The percentage composition of a

compound is found to be 32.4%
sodium, 22.5% sulfur, 45.1 % oxygen.
Determine the empirical formula.
20
The percentage composition of a compound is found
to be 32.4% sodium, 22.5% sulfur, 45.1 % oxygen.
Step 1: Assume 100 g of Sample
32.4% Na  32.4 g Na
22.5% S  22.5 g S
45.1% O  45.1 g O
Step 2: Convert grams to moles
The percentage composition of a compound is found
to be 32.4% sodium, 22.5% sulfur, 45.1 % oxygen.
Step 3: Divide by smallest mol
1.41 mol Na 0.702 mol S 2.82 mol O
Step 4: If necessary, multiply by the smallest

number possible to make each a whole number
Step 5: Write Empirical Formula
Na2SO4
Example No. 3
• The percentage composition of acetic

acid is found to be 39.9% C, 6.7% H,
and 53.4% O. Determine the empirical
formula of acetic acid.
23
The percentage composition of acetic acid is found
to be 39.9% C, 6.7% H, and 53.4% O. Determine the
empirical formula of acetic acid.
Step 1. Assume 100 g of Sample:
39.9% C  39.9 g C
6.7% H  6.7 g H
53.4% O  53.4 g O
Step 2. Convert grams to moles
The percentage composition of acetic acid is found
to be 39.9% C, 6.7% H, and 53.4% O. Determine the
empirical formula of acetic acid.
3.32 mol C 6.65 mol H 3.34 mol O

CH2O
BRAIN BREAK: The Crab
• Directions:
1. Stand Up
2. Put your arms out in front of you and touch your fingers and
thumbs together.
3. Now put lower your middle fingers so that the knuckles touch.
Keep them flat against each other.
4. Now un-touch and retouch your thumbs.
5. Now un-touch and retouch your index fingers.
6. Now un-touch and retouch your ring fingers.
7. Lastly, un-touch and retouch your pinkies.
Good luck. This one was difficult.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp0sa7Z72R8
Converting Decimals to Whole Numbers
When the number of moles for an element is a
decimal, all the moles are multiplied by a small
integer to obtain whole number.
Example No. 4
• Aspirin is 60.0% C, 4.5 % H and 35.5

% O. Calculate its empirical formula.
28
Aspirin is 60.0% C, 4.5 % H and 35.5 % O.
Calculate its empirical formula.
Step 1. Assume 100 g of Sample:
60.0% C  60.0 g C
4.5% H  4.5 g H
35.5% O  35.5 g O
Step 2. Convert grams to moles
Aspirin is 60.0% C, 4.5 % H and 35.5 % O.
Calculate its empirical formula.
5.00 mol C 4.46 mol H 2.22 mol O

C9H8O4
You Try
• A compound consists of 72.2%

magnesium and 27.8% nitrogen by
mass. What is the empirical formula of
the compound?
Mg3N2
31
You Try
Phosphoric acid is found in some soft

drinks. A sample of phosphoric acid
contains 0.086 g of hydrogen, 3.161 g of
phosphorus, and 6.531 g of oxygen.
What is the empirical formula for
phosphoric acid?
H3PO4
32
Molecular Formulas
The molecular formula
• Shows the actual number of each type of
atom in a compound
• Not always the simplest formula
Ex: C6H12O6 = glucose
Contains 6 atoms of carbon, 12 atoms of
hydrogen and 6 atoms of oxygen in 1
molecule
Molecular Formula
1. If the empirical formula is not given,
follow the steps calculate the empirical
formula.
2. Find the empirical formula mass.
3. Compare the empirical formula mass to
the molar mass.
molecular formula = (empirical formula)n
n = molar mass/empirical formula mass
Example Problem No. 1
Calculating Molecular Formula From
Empirical Formula
Example Problem 2
A white powder is analyzed and found to
have an empirical formula of P2O5. The
compound has a molar mass of 284 g/mol.
What is the compound’s molecular
formula?
Example Sample No. 2
• P2O5
• P2 x 31 = 62
• O5 x 16 = 80
-------
142 g/mol
X = Molar Mass/ Empirical Formula Mass
284g/mol = 2 (P2O5) = P4O10 Molecular Formula
142 g/mol
38
• A compound is known to be composed

of 71.65 % Cl, 24.27% C and 4.07% H.
Its molar mass is known (from gas
density) is known to be 98.96 g. What is
its molecular formula?
• 71.65g Cl 1mol
= 2.0mol
35.5 g
24.27g C 1mol
= 2.0mol
12 g
1mol = 4.0mol
4.07g H
1g
We divide by
lowest (2 mol )
ClCH2
Cl 1 x 35 = 35
C 1 x 12 = 12
H 2 x 1= 2
It will give an empirical weight of
49 g/mol.
It will give an empirical weight of
49 g/mol
Its molar mass is known (from gas density)
is known to be 98.00 g/mol. What is its
molecular
formula?
molar mass
x = =2
empirical formula mass
• 2 (ClCH2) = Cl2C2H4. Molecular Formula
43
A mixture of cyclopropane gas and oxygen is
used in an anesthetic. Cyclopropane
contains 85.7% C, and 14.3% H by mass.
The molecular mass is 42.0 g/mol. What is
the empirical and molecular formula of the
cyclopropane?
Calculating Molecular Formula & Empirical
Formula
A mixture of cyclopropane gas and oxygen is used in
an anesthetic. Cyclopropane contains 85.7% C, and
14.3% H by mass. The molecular mass is 42.0 g/mol.
What is the empirical and molecular formula of the
cyclopropane?
=1C Empirical
CH2
=2H
Calculating Molecular Formula & Empirical
Formula
A mixture of cyclopropane gas and oxygen is used in an anaesthetic.
Cyclopropane contains 85.7% C, and 14.3% H by mass. The molecular
mass is about 42.0 g/mol. What is the empirical and molecular
formula of the cyclopropane?
• Find the empirical formula mass

• For CH2, the formula weight is 12.01 + 2 × 1.01 = 14.03 g/mol.
• Divide the molecular weight by the formula weight.
In this case, the molecular formula weight divided by the
empirical formula weight is 42.0/14.03 ≈ 3.
• 3 x CH2  C3H6.
YOUR TURN
Epinephrine (adrenaline) is a hormone secreted into
the bloodstream in times of danger and stress. It is
59.0% carbon, 7.1% hydrogen, 6.2% oxygen, and 7.7%
nitrogen by mass. Its molar mass is about 180 g/mol.
Find the empirical and molecular formulas of
epinephrine.
Empirical Molecular
C9H13O3N C9H13O3N
47
Your Turn
• Ibuprofen, a common headache remedy, has an

empirical formula of C7H9O and a molar mass of
approximately 215 g/mol. What is the molecular
formula for ibuprofen?
C14H18O2
48
Your Turn
• Ibuprofen, a common headache remedy, has an

empirical formula of C7H9O and a molar mass of
approximately 215 g/mol. What is the molecular
formula for ibuprofen?
C14H18O2
49
QUESTIONS
1.) A compound containing barium, carbon, and

oxygen has the following percent composition: 69.58%
Ba, 6.09% C, 24.32% O. What is the empirical formula
for this compound?
• 2) What is the empirical and molecular formula of
Vitamin D3 if it contains 84.31% C, 11.53% H, and
4.16% O, with a molar mass of 384 g/mol?

Empirical Molecular Formulas

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Percent Composition &

Empirical & Molecular Formulas

If necessary, the mass of any elements not given by elemental analysis is

How to Calculate % Composition

12.00 g C x 100 = 27.27 % C

2(16.00) g O x 100 = 72.73 % O

STEP 2: Calculate % Composition for each element

%C = 36.00 g C x 100 = 40.00% C

%H = 6.00 g H x 100 = 6.67% H

%O = 48.00 g O x 100 = 53.33% O

Total C = 7C(12.01) = 84.00g

%C = 84.00 g C x 100 = 64.615 % C

How to Calculate % Composition

The chemical isoamyl acetate C7H14O2 gives

• Caffeine is 49.48% C, 5.15% H, 28.87%

empirical mass = 97g

• The percentage composition of a

Step 4: If necessary, multiply by the smallest

• The percentage composition of acetic

Step 4: If necessary, multiply by the smallest

• Aspirin is 60.0% C, 4.5 % H and 35.5

Step 4: If necessary, multiply by the smallest

Step 5: Write Empirical Formula

• A compound consists of 72.2%

Phosphoric acid is found in some soft

• A compound is known to be composed

• Find the empirical formula mass

• Ibuprofen, a common headache remedy, has an

• Ibuprofen, a common headache remedy, has an

1.) A compound containing barium, carbon, and

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