5.2 Empirical Formula

Question 1

What is the empirical formula

Answer 1

The Empirical Formula is the reduced; or simplified molecular formula. It shows which atoms are present and in whatratiothey are present.

Question 2

How do you determine the empirical formula with percent composition

Answer 2

multiply the percent of each element by 100 g to determine the mass of each element in the compound

find the molar mass of each element

use the molar mass and multiply with the mass of each element in 100g to find the number of moles in 100 g for each element

divide both numbers by the smaller one to determine the ration

the empirical formula is the simplest version of that ration