Finding Empirical Formulas
Converting between compounds and their empirical formulas can simplify complex molecules. For example, glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and formaldehyde (CH₂O) have the same empirical formula (CH₂O), meaning they share identical percent compositions by mass.
To determine an empirical formula from mass data, follow these steps: First, convert the mass of each element to moles. Second, divide each value by the smallest number of moles. Third, use these mole ratios to write the chemical formula. For example, if you have 13.5g calcium, 10.8g oxygen, and 0.675g hydrogen, converting to moles and finding the ratio gives Ca₁H₂O₂, which can be written as Ca(OH)₂.
When working with percentage composition, treat the percentages as grams (43.6% P means 43.6g P in 100g of compound). Convert these values to moles, find their ratio, and then multiply to get whole numbers if needed. For instance, a compound with 43.6% P and 56.4% O has an empirical formula of P₂O₅.
Chemistry Hack: When finding empirical formulas, always double-check your math by ensuring the percentages add up to 100% (or close to it due to rounding). This simple verification can catch many common errors!