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Difference between revisions of "Empirical Formula"

(Finding the Empirical Formula)
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|[[File:BallandStickButan12diol.png|center|200px]]
 
|[[File:BallandStickButan12diol.png|center|200px]]
 
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The [[ratio]] of [[Hydrogen]] [[atom]]s to [[Oxygen]] [[atom]]s
 
The [[ratio]] of [[Hydrogen]] [[atom]]s to [[Oxygen]] [[atom]]s
  
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So the '''empirical formula''' is H<sub>2</sub>O
 
So the '''empirical formula''' is H<sub>2</sub>O
  
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In this [[diagram]] there are 4 [[Carbon]] [[atom]]s, 10 [[Hydrogen]] [[atom]]s.
 
In this [[diagram]] there are 4 [[Carbon]] [[atom]]s, 10 [[Hydrogen]] [[atom]]s.
  
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So the '''empirical formula''' is C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>
 
So the '''empirical formula''' is C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>
  
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In this [[diagram]] there are 4 [[Carbon]] [[atom]]s, 10 [[Hydrogen]] [[atom]]s and 2 [[Oxygen]] [[atom]]s.
 
In this [[diagram]] there are 4 [[Carbon]] [[atom]]s, 10 [[Hydrogen]] [[atom]]s and 2 [[Oxygen]] [[atom]]s.
  

Revision as of 16:29, 2 January 2019

Key Stage 4

Meaning

An empirical formula is the simplest ratio of the different types of atom in a compound.

About Empirical Formulae

The empirical formula of a compound may not be the same as the chemical formula:

Empirical formulae are calculated from the amount of atoms in a chemical reaction.
The number of atoms can be found if you know the mass of different elements and the relative atomic mass of the elements in the reaction.

Finding the Empirical Formula

Number of Atoms Picture Structural Diagram
100 atoms of Hydrogen react completely with 50 atoms of Oxygen.
SkeletalFormulaButane.png
BallandStickButan12diol.png

The ratio of Hydrogen atoms to Oxygen atoms

H:O

100:50

2:1

So the empirical formula is H2O

In this diagram there are 4 Carbon atoms, 10 Hydrogen atoms.

The ratio of atoms is:

C:H

4:10

2:5

So the empirical formula is C2H5

In this diagram there are 4 Carbon atoms, 10 Hydrogen atoms and 2 Oxygen atoms.

The ratio of atoms is:

C:H:O

4:10:2

2:5:1

So the empirical formula is C2H5O