Study
2.1: MOLECULAR WEIGHT - Answer A compound is made up of two or more elements
combined in a definite ratio that is represented by a molecular formula. Each of these
elements has a certain atomic weight, which can be found in the periodic table. The
sum of the atomic weights of the atoms in the molecular formula is called the formula
weight or molecular weight or formula mass.
Ca3(PO4)2 - Answer calcium phosphate
Molecular Weight =
3 Ca= 3 x 40.08=120.24
2 P=2 x 30.97=61.94
8 O=8 x 16.00=128.00
Total 310.18
2.2: MOLES - Answer Chemical compounds react with one another in amounts that are
based on their molecular weights; this chemically reactive amount of compound is
called a mole.
moles - Answer = grams / molecular weight
Calculate the number of moles in 10.0 grams of each of the following compounds: -
Answer Ca3(PO4)2 10.0 g ÷ 310.18 = 0.0322 mol (3 sig fig because of 10.0 g)
C3H5O2Cl 10.0 g ÷ 108.52 = 0.0921 mol
Al2(SO4)3 10.0 g ÷ 342.17 = 0.0292 mol
Ca3(PO4)2 0.0500 mol x 310.18 = 15.5 g
C3H5O2Cl 0.0500 mol x 108.52 = 5.43 g
Al2(SO4)3 0.0500 mol x 342.17 = 17.1 g
2.3: PERCENT COMPOSITION - Answer he molecular formula represents the definite
ratio of elements in a compound. The weight of each element present in the compound
represents a certain percentage of the total weight of the compound. The percentage of
each element present in a compound is called the % composition of the compound.
The percentage of an element present in a compound can be calculated as shown
below: - Answer % of an element = weight of element / molecular weight of compound x
100
, Ca3(PO4)2 - Answer 3 Ca = 3 x 40.08= 120.24
2 P = 2 x 30.97= 61.94
8 O = 8 x 16.00 = 128.00
310.18
% Ca = (120.24 ÷ 310.18) x 100 = 38.76%
%P = (61.94 ÷ 310.18) x 100 = 19.97%
%O = (128.00 ÷ 310.18) x 100 = 41.27%
2.4: EMPIRICAL FORMULA - Answer If the formula of a compound is known, the %
composition of the compound can be determined. This process can be done in reverse:
The formula of the compound can be determined if the % of each element present in the
compound is known. The formula calculated from % composition is known as the
empirical formula (or the simplest formula). The actual molecular formula is some
multiple of this simplest formula, which is determined by knowing the molecular weight.
To determine the empirical formula: - Answer (1) Divide each element % by its exact
atomic weight to give a set of numbers.
(2) Divide the smallest of this set of decimal numbers into each of the numbers
(including itself) to yield a second set of numbers.
(3a) Round off each of the second set of decimal numbers to a whole number.
OR
(3b) If the numbers derived from the division in step 2 are recognized as exact decimal
equivalents of fractions (such as n.25 = 1/4, n.333 = 1/3, n.5 = 1/2, n.666 = 2/3, n.75 =
3/4), multiply all of the numbers derived by division by the denominator of the
recognized fraction to give whole numbers.
(4) Each whole number is the number of atoms of that element in the empirical formula.
% Composition of a compound is: - Answer 32.37% Na; 32.37% Na ÷ 22.99 = 1.408
22.58%S; 22.58% S ÷ 32.07 = 0.704 (smallest number of the set)
45.05% O; 45.05% O ÷ 16.00 = 2.816
0.704 is the smallest of this set of numbers, so it is divided into each of the set of
numbers.
Na = 1.408 ÷ 0.704 = 2 Na
S = 0.704 ÷ 0.704 = 1 S
O = 2.816 ÷ 0.704 = 4 O
Na2SO4