Empirical and molecular formulae

Question 1

What is the empirical formula?

Answer 1

the formula that represents the simplest whole number ratio of the atoms of each element present in a compound

Question 2

How do you find the empirical formula?

Answer 2

1) find the masses of each elements present in a compound
2) work out the number of moles of atoms of each element

n = m /m of 1mol

3) convert the number of moles of each element into a whole number ratio

Question 3

How do you find the simplest ratio?

Answer 3

divide each number by the smallest number

Question 4

What is the molecular formula?

Answer 4

gives the actual number of atoms of each element in one molecule

it applies only to substances that exicst as molecules

Question 5

How do you find the number of units of the empirical formula in the molecular formula?

Answer 5

divide the relative molecular mass by the relative mass of the empirical formular