5.3 Melcular Formula

Question 1

What is the difference between molecular and empirical formulas

Answer 1

TheMolecular formulais the chemical formula that indicates the numbers of each atom in a molecular compound whereas theempirical formulafrom before is the formula that gives the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of elements in a compound.

Question 2

How do you convert from a molecular formula to an empirical formula

Answer 2

It is very easy to change a molecular formula to its empirical form. Just divide all subscripts by their greatest common factor (GCF) – the largest number that will go into all of them.

Question 3

How do you covert from an empirical formula to a molecular formula

Answer 3

In order to change an empirical formula to its molecular form we have to know the molar mass of the compound.

if you know the molar mass of the molecular formula, and can calculate the molar mass of the empirical formula

then you can divide the mass of the molecular formula by the mass of the empirical formula, then multiple the number of each element by that number.