how to find the empirical formula understand with examples
How to Find the Empirical Formula - Understand with Examples
The simplest chemical representation that denotes the ratio of elemental atoms of a compound in the form of positive integers is called empirical formula. So how does one go about finding the empirical formula? This Buzzle article will provide you with some easy steps for calculating this ratio, along with a few examples and practice problems.
Empirical Formula Calculator
Steps for Calculation
Step 1
The empirical ratios of a compound can be calculated when the percentages of each of the elements that makes up the compound are known. For simplicity, the summation of all the percentages is equal to 100. Equate the percentages of each component as the gram weight of that specific element (the total weight of the compound will be 100 grams).
Step 2
Divide each weight value with the atomic weight of the particular element. The atomic weights can be found by referring to a periodic table of the elements. This division gives us the value in moles or molar mass of each component of the compound. Note down every reading and arrange them in the given manner: (X, Y, and Z).
Step 3
Note down the smallest value of the molar masses, and divide every molar amount with this value, including itself. This gives us the atomic ratio, which is represented in a particular linear form, i.e., X:Y:Z. This mathematical entity is quite useful for comparing the quantity of every element in the compound, in the simplest manner.
Step 4
Multiply the ratio by a particular number in order to convert it into whole numbers. This is done so that if the ratio consists of a few fractions, then simplifying them is required for writing down the empirical formula. The number can be decided only by the trial-and-error method, and rounding off the digits to the nearest whole number is required in some cases.
Step 5
After the multiplication, write down the empirical formula in the same linear form, (X2Y5Z7). This is the simplest way by which the compound can be written by denoting the least number of molecules. The compounds X4Y10Z14 and X6Y15Z21 have the same empirical formula as mentioned above.
Examples
Example # Carbon (C) = 68.31 gm
Hydrogen (H) = 8.78 gm
Oxygen (O) = 22.91 gm
The atomic weights can be referred from a periodic table, and they are - C (12.01), H (1.008), and O (16). Divide the gram values by the atomic weights to get the molar masses.
C = 68.31÷12.01 = 5.68 mol
H = 8.78÷1.008 = 8.71 mol
O = 22.91÷16 = 1.43 mol
The smallest molar value is 1.43, that belongs to oxygen. Dividing every molar amount by this value will give us the atomic ratio. This is represented as:
C = 5.68÷1.43 = 3.97
H = 8.71÷1.43 = 6.09
O = 1.43÷1.43 = 1
The atomic ratio is written as C:H:O = 3.97:6.09:1. The amount of oxygen is the least in this compound. In most cases, this ratio needs to be multiplied by a number to give a series of whole number ratio. But, as two fractions are present in the series that are very close to whole numbers, the ratio can be rounded off, i.e., C:H:O = 4:6:1. Thus, the empirical formula of the compound is written as:
C4H6O
Example # Carbon (C) = 58.26 gm
Hydrogen (H) = 6.52 gm
Nitrogen (N) = 8.73 gm
Oxygen (O) = 26.49 gm
Dividing these values by the respective atomic masses, the molar weights of the elements are written as follows:
C = 58.26÷12.01 = 4.85 mol
H = 6.52÷1.008 = 6.46 mol
N = 8.73÷14 = 0.62 mol
O = 26.49÷16 = 1.65 mol
The least molar mass is 0.62 moles of nitrogen. By diving all the masses by this value, the atomic ratio is represented as:
C = 4.85÷0.62 = 7.82 ~ 8
H = 6.46÷0.62 = 10.41 ~ 10
N = 0.62÷0.62 = 1
O = 1.65÷0.62 = 2.66 ~ 3
From the above values, the atomic ratio is represented as: C:H:N:O = 7.82:10.41:1:2.66. As most of the digits are fractions, they can be rounded off to the nearest whole number (if less fractions are present in the ration, then they should be multiplied by an integer to get a whole number). This is denoted by the sign '~' in the above representation.
Thus, after rounding off the values, the empirical formula of this compound is written in the following form:
C8H10NO3
Practice Problems
Solve the following problems in order to thoroughly understand the concept of finding out the empirical formula in analytical chemistry.
Calculate the empirical formula of a compound that has the following components: 64% carbon, 8% hydrogen, and 28% oxygen by weight. The atomic weights are: C (12.01), H (1.008), and O (16).
A compound forms due to the reaction of ammonia with phosphate, and consists of 30.2% nitrogen, 19.4% phosphorous, 8.5% hydrogen, and 41.9% oxygen. Calculate the empirical formula. Atomic mass numbers are: phosphorous (31), hydrogen (1.008), nitrogen (14), and oxygen (16).
Calculate the empirical formula of a compound that consists of 34.42 % sulfur, 30.35 % oxygen, and 35.23% fluorine. Atomic weights of sulfur and fluorine are 32.06 and 19, respectively.
Calculate the empirical formula of a compound that consists of 22.70% potassium, 38.76% manganese, and 38.54% oxygen. Atomic mass numbers of potassium and manganese are 30.97 and 54.93, respectively.
Citric acid consists of 33.51% C, 11.20% H, and 55.29% O. Determine the empirical formula of this acid solution.
Always remember to keep a periodic table with you whenever calculating empirical formula or any such chemistry-related problems, as you will find all the important aspects of the elements described in the table.