1. TYPES OF FORMULA

2. EMPIRICAL FORMULA
- lowest whole number ratio of the elements in a compound
STEPS
1. Given the % composition, change the percent to grams.
2. Change the grams to moles using the formula n = GW MM
3. Calculate the lowest whole number ratio of the moles.

3. Determine the empirical formula of a compound containing 74
Determine the empirical formula of a compound containing 74.19% Na and 25.81% O.
Step 1. Change % to grams
mass of Na = g
mass of O = g
Step 2. Solve for number of moles
mole Na = g = moles
23 g/mole Na
mole O = g = moles
16 g/ mole O

4. EMPIRICAL FORMULA : Na2O
Step 3. Divide all number of moles by the lowest number.
number of atoms of Na
moles =
number of atoms of O
1.613 moles =
2 atoms
1.613 moles
1 atom
1.613 moles
EMPIRICAL FORMULA : Na2O

5. Find the empirical formula of the compound that contains 33.32% Na, 20.30% N and 46.38% O.
Step 1 – Change % to mass
Na = g O = g
N= g
Step 2 – Solve for number of moles
mole Na = g = 1.45 moles
23 g/Na
mole N = g = 1.45 moles
14 g/N
mole O = g = 2.90 moles
16 g/O

6. EMPIRICAL FORMULA : NaNO2
Step 3 – Divide all mole values by the lowest number of mole to get number of atoms.
atom Na = 1.45 moles = 1 atom
1.45 moles
atom N = 1.45 moles = 1 atom
atom O = 2.90 moles = 2 atoms
EMPIRICAL FORMULA : NaNO2

7. MOLECULAR FORMULA
Indicates the actual number of atoms of each element present in the molecule.
STEPS
Find the empirical formula
Find the empirical formula mass (EFM)
Divide the given molecular mass (MM) by the EFM to get the multiplier of the empirical formula
Multiply the subscript of each atom of the empirical formula by the multiplier to get the molecular formula.

8. Step 1 – Find the empirical formula N = 87.5 g H =12.5 g
Find the molecular formula of a compound with a molar mass of 32 g/mole and percent composition of 87.5% N and 12.5% H.
Step 1 – Find the empirical formula
N = 87.5 g H =12.5 g
Solving for number of moles:
mole N = 87.5 g = 6.25 moles
14 g/N
mole H = 12.5 g = 12.5 moles
1 g/H

9. EMPIRICAL FORMULA : NH2 Step 2. Get the EFM.
Solving for the empirical formula
atom of N = 6.25 moles = 1 atom
6.25 moles
atom of H = 12.5 moles = 2 atoms
EMPIRICAL FORMULA : NH2
Step 2. Get the EFM.
EFM of NH2 = (1 N X 14 g) + (2 H X 1 g)
= 16 g

10. Step 3. Divide the MM by the EFM to get the multiplier.
multiplier = MM = 32 g = 2
EFM g
Step 4. Multiply the subscript of each atom in the empirical formula to get the molecular formula of the compound.
N1X2 H2X2 = N2H4
MOLECULAR FORMULA