Empirical and Molecular Formula

What are the 3 common types of chemical formulas

empirical

molecular

structural

What does the empirical formula show

the lowest whole number mole ratio of all elements in a compound

What does the molecular formula show

the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule

What does the structural formula show

the relative placement and connections of atoms in the molecule

Given a molecular formula, how is empirical formula found

by dividing all subscripts by their GCF

What are the 3 steps to figure out the empirical formula from mass%

1. determine mass of each element

2. convert each mass to moles and write a preliminary formula

3. convert moles mathematically to whole numbers (either dividing by smallest subscript, or multiplying by smallest integer that converts all subscripts to integers)

What does the molecular formula detail

the exact elemental composition of a compound

What two things must we know to determine the molecular formula

molar mass of a compound and its empirical formula

What must be given to deduce the molecular formula of a specified compound

mass information of samples

List the 3 steps to find molecular formula, given empirical formula

1. find mass of empirical formula

2. divide molar mass by empirical formula mass

3. scale empirical formula using step 2