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Molecular formulas are used the most often, but empirical formulas do help at times. Often it's just to simplify the molecular formula, but this simplification can often tell you if it's in the same chemical family as other compounds and such.

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Would ionic or covalent molecules use the molecular formula or empirical formula?

What you write for an ionic compound is called the formula unit, but the formula unit is almost always the same as the empirical formula. The answer to your question could not be the molecular formula because an ionic compound is not a molecule.


What are the steps in writing a molecular compound?

First U have to write the symbols of elements that form the compound, forexample if we want to write the chemical formula of magnesium chloride:1. Mg Cl2. we have to write the valence of each element below itMg Cl2 1then, we switch the valences of each oneso, the chemical formula is going to be:MgCl2


Why some compounds have molecular and empirical formula?

The concept of empirical formulas apply to ionic compounds. You write the action first, the anion second, and use the minimal amount of atoms possible to make a neutral compound. A molecular formula would be the formula without necessarily the minimum amount of atoms.


Use the masses of carbon dioxide CO2 and water H2O to determine the empirical formula of the alkane component?

To determine the empirical formula of the alkane component, first calculate the moles of carbon and hydrogen in the CO2 and H2O respectively. Then find the ratio of moles of carbon to hydrogen. Finally, simplify the ratio to the smallest whole number to obtain the empirical formula of the alkane component.


Is molecular weight the same as mass?

Technically... not really. It would perhaps be more accurate to use the terms formula mass and molecular mass rather than formula weight and molecular weight. This because in physical terms, weight is a force while mass is a measure of the amount of substance in something.

Related Questions

Determine the molecular formula of a compound if its empirical formula is C2H6O and its molar mass is 138g?

Because an empirical formula is the simplest form of a compound, we know that the molecular formula contains more atoms than it does. Since we are given the molar mass, we can use this formula. x ( MM of empirical formula ) = MM of molecular formula MM of empirical formula = 12(2) + 1(6) + 16 = 46 MM of molecular formula = 138 46x = 138 x= 138 / 46 x=3 Therefore, the molecular formula is 3(C2H6O) that is C6H18O3


Would ionic or covalent molecules use the molecular formula or empirical formula?

What you write for an ionic compound is called the formula unit, but the formula unit is almost always the same as the empirical formula. The answer to your question could not be the molecular formula because an ionic compound is not a molecule.


The molecular formula for sucrose is C11H22O11. How would the empirical formula of sucrose be obtained from this information?

The empirical formula is the smallest unit which shows the different atoms in their correct ratios. You find it by taking out any common factor from the numbers. In this case all three numbers divide by 11, so the empirical formula is CH2O. In practice, we usually determine the empirical formula from experiment (hence the name), then use it with other information to derive the molecular formula.


What is the Molar mass of empirical formula NO2?

The formula of NO2 has a molecular weight of 46 g/mol. Your compound has a molecular weight of 92 g/mol. As you can see the molecular weight of the compound is twice that of the empirical formula. Therefore the molecular formula of your compound is:2 *(NO2) ---> N2O4


How do you determine the molecular formula of a compound from its empirical formula?

If you are given the empirical formula and are asked for the actual formula, then the molecular mass of the compound will be given too. Take this example problem: Empirical Formula: CH2O Molecular Mass: 180.0 First you have to find the empirical mass. Just find the atomic masses of all the elements in the empirical formula and add them together. If there are multiple atoms of the same element, then you have to add the element's atomic mass for every multiple. In the example, you have to add hydrogen twice because there are two hydrogen atoms in the empirical formula. C- 12.0 H- 1.00 H- 1.00 O- 16.0 + _________ 30.0 The empirical formula is some multiple of the actual formula. The empirical formula shows the ratio of atoms as 1:2:1. This means that the actual formula could be 2:4:2 or 3:6:3 or 4:8:4 etc. In order to find what multiple it is, divide the molecular mass by the empirical mass. An easier way to think of it is: x(empirical mass) = molecular mass Use this formula to find x: x(30.0) = 180.0 x = 6 In this example, x turned out to be exactly 6, but in some cases (especially in lab results) the answer will be close to a whole number but not exact. There is usually a standard +/- .02 for your result. If the x value was 6.02 or 5.98, we would just round up or down as long as it is within .02 Take the x value and multiply it with the number of atoms in the original empirical formula. C1H2O1 * 6 = C6H12C6 The final result is the actual molecular formula.


How can one determine the molecular formula from the given molar mass and percent composition?

To determine the molecular formula from the given molar mass and percent composition, you can follow these steps: Convert the percent composition to grams for each element present in the compound. Calculate the number of moles of each element using the molar mass and the grams of each element. Divide the moles of each element by the smallest number of moles to get the mole ratio. Use the mole ratio to determine the empirical formula. Calculate the empirical formula mass and compare it to the given molar mass to find the multiplier needed to get the molecular formula.


What are the steps in writing a molecular compound?

First U have to write the symbols of elements that form the compound, forexample if we want to write the chemical formula of magnesium chloride:1. Mg Cl2. we have to write the valence of each element below itMg Cl2 1then, we switch the valences of each oneso, the chemical formula is going to be:MgCl2


The Strange Case of Mole Airlines Flight 10231 how to do this paper?

Use the empirical formula. The numbers might be in percent composition, if that's the case convert to moles and proceed with the empirical formula.


Why some compounds have molecular and empirical formula?

The concept of empirical formulas apply to ionic compounds. You write the action first, the anion second, and use the minimal amount of atoms possible to make a neutral compound. A molecular formula would be the formula without necessarily the minimum amount of atoms.


What is the chemical formula of chlorobenzene?

Benzene is equal parts hydrogen and carbon, and has C6H6 as it molecular formula. It is actually a ring with the carbons in the middle and the hydrogen bonded one-to-one with the carbon atoms on the outside. Use the link below for more information and to see a "picture" that cannot be drawn here.


How can one determine the empirical formula from percent by mass?

To determine the empirical formula from percent by mass, first convert the percentages to grams. Then divide the grams of each element by its molar mass to find the moles. Next, divide the moles of each element by the smallest number of moles to get the simplest ratio. Finally, use this ratio to write the empirical formula.


What is the molecular formula for aqueous ammonia?

NH3(aq) or NH4(OH) But make sure u use NH4(OH) for chemical equations.