Principles of General Chemistry, 2nd ed. By M.

Silberberg
Chemistry, 8th ed. by W. Whitten, R. Davis, R., M. L. Peck, and G. Stanley.

Lecture
Composition
Stoichiometry • Derivation of Formulas from Elemental
continued… Composition
• Determination of Molecular Formulas
• Purity of Samples

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Derivation of Formulas from Derivation of Formulas from

Elemental Composition Elemental Composition
• Empirical Formula - smallest whole-number ratio of
atoms present in a compound We determine the empirical and molecular formulas of a
compound from the percent composition of the compound.
– CH2 is the empirical formula for alkenes
– No alkene exists that has 1 C and 2 H’s

• Molecular Formula - actual numbers of atoms of each

element present in a molecule of the compound
– Ethene – C2H4
– Pentene – C5H10

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Derivation of Formulas from Derivation of Formulas from

Elemental Composition Elemental Composition
• Example: A compound contains 24.74% K, 34.76%
Mn, and 40.50% O by mass. What is its empirical 1 mol K
formula? mol K = 24.74 g K × = 0.6327 mol K
39.10 g K
1 mol Mn
• Make the simplifying assumption that we have 100.0 g mol Mn = 34.76 g Mn × = 0.6327 mol Mn
54.94 g Mn
of compound.
1mol O
• In 100.0 g of compound there are: mol O = 40.50 g O × = 2.531 mol O
– 24.74 g of K 16.00 g O
– 34.76 g of Mn obtain smallest whole number ratio
– 40.50 g of O

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Derivation of Formulas from Derivation of Formulas from
Elemental Composition Elemental Composition
• Example: A sample of a compound contains
0.6327 0.6327 6.541g of Co and 2.368g of O. What is the
for K ⇒ =1K for Mn ⇒ = 1 Mn formula of this compound?
0.6327 0.6327
2.531
for O ⇒ =4O ? mol Co = 6.541 g Co ×
1 mol Co
= 0.1110 mol Co
0.6327 58.93 gCo
thus the chemical formula is KMnO 4 ? mol O = 2.368 g O ×
1mol O
= 0.1480 mol O
16.00 g O

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Derivation of Formulas from Determination

Elemental Composition of Molecular Formulas
• Example. A compound is found to contain 85.63%
0.1110 0.1480
C and 14.37% H by mass. In another experiment its
for Co ⇒ = 1 Co for O ⇒ = 1.333 O molar mass is found to be 56.1 g/mol. What is its
0.1110 0.1110
multipy both by 3 to turn fraction to whole number molecular formula?
1 Co × 3 = 3 Co 1.333 O × 3 = 4 O 1 mol contains 56.1 g
Thus the compound' s formula is :
Co 3 O 4
85.63% is C and 14.37% is H
56.1 g × 0.8563 = 48.0 g of C
56.1 g × 0.1437 = 8.10 g of H
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Determination Determination
of Molecular Formulas of Molecular Formulas
convert masses to moles Vitamin C (MM = 176.12 g/mol) is a compound
of C, H and O found in many natural sources,
1 mol C
48.0 g of C × = 4 mol C especially citrus fruits. When 1.000 g sample
12.0 g C of vitamin C is placed in a combustion
1 mol H chamber and burned, 1.500 g of CO2 and
8.10 g of H × = 8 mol H
1.01 g H 0.4100 g of H2O were produced. What is the
Thus the formula is : molecular formula of vitamin C?
C 4H 8

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Determination Determination
of Molecular Formulas of Molecular Formulas
C xHy O z + O 2 →
∆
CO 2 + H2 O C xHy O z + O 2 →
∆
CO 2 + H2 O
1mol CO2 1mol C
1.500 g CO2 × × = 0.03408 mol C × 12.01 g/mol = 0.4093 g C
44.01 g CO2 1mol CO2 C 0.03408 H0.04550 O 0.03405 = C1H1.34O1 = C3H4O3
0.03405 0.03405 0.03405
1molH2O 2 molH
0.4100g H2O × × = 0.04550molH× 1.01g/mol= 0.04596g H
18.02 g H2O 1molH2O MM 176.12
n= = ≈2 ∴ C6H8O 6
EFM 88.07
mass of O = 1.000 - 0.4093 - 0.04596 = 0.5447 g ÷ 16.0 g/mol = 0.03405mol O

Determination
of Molecular Formulas Purity of Samples
• The percent purity of a sample of a substance is
always represented as

mass of pure substance

% purity = × 100%
mass of sample
mass of sample includes impurities

Vitamin C [ascorbic acid]

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Purity of Samples
• Example. A bottle of sodium phosphate, Na3PO4, is
98.3% pure Na3PO4. What are the masses of Na3PO4
“The eye sees what the
and impurities in 250.0 g of this sample of Na3PO4? mind is prepared to
98.3g Na3PO4
comprehend.”
comprehend.”
unit factor
100.0g sample
98.3g Na3PO4
g Na3PO4 = 250.0 g sample×
100.0g sample
= 246g Na3PO4 questions?
g impurities= 250.0g sample- 246 g Na3PO4
= 4 g impurities

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