Introduction
Chemistry is a subject that deals with the study of matter and its properties. Empirical formula is a formula that shows the simplest ratio of the atoms in a compound. In this article, we will discuss the steps to calculate empirical formula in chemistry.
Step 1: Write the Chemical Formula
The first step in calculating empirical formula is to write the chemical formula of the compound. For example, let’s consider the compound C2H6O.
Step 2: Determine the Molar Mass of the Compound
The next step is to determine the molar mass of the compound. To do this, we need to find the atomic mass of each element in the compound and then multiply it by the number of atoms of that element in the compound. For C2H6O, the molar mass is: (2 x 12.01 g/mol) + (6 x 1.01 g/mol) + (1 x 16.00 g/mol) = 46.07 g/mol
Step 3: Find the Mole Ratio
The mole ratio is the ratio of the number of moles of each element in the compound. To find the mole ratio, we need to divide the number of moles of each element by the smallest number of moles. For C2H6O, the mole ratio is: C: 2/2 = 1 H: 6/2 = 3 O: 1/2 = 0.5
Step 4: Write the Empirical Formula
The final step is to write the empirical formula using the mole ratio. In this case, the empirical formula for C2H6O is CH3O.
Conclusion
Calculating empirical formula in chemistry is an important concept that helps us understand the composition of compounds. By following the above steps, you can easily calculate the empirical formula of any compound.