Percent Composition,
Empirical Formula &
Molecular Formula
Ailene P. Landicho
Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students should
be able to:
1. Calculate the empirical formula from the
percent composition of a compound.
2. Calculate the molecular formula given the
molar mass.
Unlocking of Terms:
• Percent composition – percentage by mass of
each element in a compound
• Empirical formula – lowest whole number ratio
of atoms in a compound
• Molecular formula – actual number of atoms
of each element in the formula of a compound
REMEMBER!
• Formulas for ionic compounds are ALWAYS
empirical.
• Formulas for molecular compound MIGHT be
empirical.
Unlocking of Terms:
• Mole (mol) - the SI unit for the amount of substance.
This number, called Avogadro’s number (in honor of
the Italian physicist Amadeo Avogadro), is enormous:
𝟐𝟑
One mole 1(mol) = 6.022x𝟏𝟎 particles (atoms)
• One mole of an element = atomic mass in grams
• Molar mass – mass of 1 mole of a substance, typically
expressed in grams per mole (g/mol)
To solve for the Molar mass of a compound:
1. Determine the atomic masses of each element in
the compound.
2. Multiply the atomic masses of each element by
the number of atoms of that element in the
compound. (molar mass of the element)
3. Add up the molar masses of all the elements to
get the total molar mass.
SEATWORK
Calculate the molar mass of the given
compounds.
1. 𝐶6 𝐻12 𝑂6
2. 𝑁𝐻3
3. (𝑁𝐻4 )2 𝑆𝑂4
Steps in Calculating Percentage Composition
Sample Problem:
Calculate the percentage composition of magnesium
carbonate, MgCO3.
Step 1. Determine the molar mass of each element in the
compound.
Step 2. Calculate the molar mass of the compound.
Step 3. Calculate the percentage composition of each
element by dividing the molar mass of each element with
the molar mass of the compound, then multiply by 100.
PRACTICE EXERCISE
1. Calculate the percent composition of BaCl2.
2. A sample of copper (II) sulfate (CuSO4) has a molar
mass of 159.62 g/mol. Calculate the percentage
composition of copper in CuSO4.
3. The molecular formula of Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is
C6H8O6. Determine its percent composition.
ACTIVITY
Which of the following commonly used
fertilizer is the richest source of nitrogen
on a mass percentage basis?
a. Urea, (𝑁𝐻2 )2 𝐶𝑂
b. Ammonium nitrate, 𝑁𝐻4 𝑁𝑂3
c. Ammonia, 𝑁𝐻3
Steps in Calculating Empirical Formula
Sample Problem:
Chemical analysis of a liquid shows that it is 60% C, 13.4
% H, and 26.6 % O by mass. Calculate the empirical
formula of the substance.
Step 1. Convert to grams.
Step 2. Convert grams to mole.
Step 3. Divide each value of moles by the smallest of
the values. *These numbers will be the subscripts of
each element.
PRACTICE EXERCISE
1. A compound contains 40.0% carbon, 6.7 % hydrogen and
53.3 % oxygen by mass. What is its empirical formula?
2. A compound contains 7.81% C and 92.19% Cl. What is the
empirical formula of the compound?
3. A compound contains 40.1 % calcium and 59.9 % chlorine
by mass. Determine the empirical formula.
4. A sample of a compound contains 2.50 g of N and 5.75 g
of O. What is its empirical formula?
Notes to Emphasize:
• If results are not whole numbers (e.g., 1.5), multiply all by a
common factor to get whole numbers (e.g., ×2).
• Round only if the decimal is very close to a whole number
(within ~0.05).
Example:
A compound was found to contain 43.64% P and
56.36% O. What is its empirical formula?
Steps in Calculating Molecular Formula
Sample Problem:
The empirical formula for a compound is 𝑃2 𝑂5 . Its experimental
molar mass is 284 g/mol. Determine the molecular formula of the
compound.
Step 1. Find the molar mass of the empirical formula.
Step 2. Divide the given molar mass by the molar mass computed
from the empirical formula.
Step 3. Multiply the number by the subscripts of the empirical
formula to get the subscripts for the molecular formula.
PRACTICE EXERCISE
1. The empirical formula for adipic acid is 𝐶3 𝐻5 𝑂2 . Its
molar mass is 146 g/mol. What is the molecular formula
of adipic acid?
2. A compound contains 40 % C, 6.7% H, and 53.3% O by
mass. If the molar mass is 180 g/mol, what is the
molecular formula?
3. A sample of a compound contains 2.04 g carbon, 0.34 g of
hydrogen, and 2.72 g oxygen. What is the molecular
formula?