Monday, October 25, 2010

Empirical vs Molecular Formula

Today, we started class by getting back our quizes from last week.  I didn't take the quiz so I have no idea what happened in the beginning of the class.  I am sorry~  Anyway we went over the quiz about 15 minutes.
Then we started to learn what empirical formula is, and how this Empirical formula relates with Molecular formula.

Molecular formula = (Empirical formula)n
* n is an integer

Once you get Empirical formula, then easy to get Molecular formula.

The Empirical formula is the simplest form of the Molecular formula.
For example :
Molecular formula - C6H12
Empirical formula - Divide by 6 - CH2
Here is a sample we did in the class:

Determine the Empirical and Molecular formulas for a compound that gives the following %.
 - 71.65% (Cl)
 - 24.27% (C)
 - 4.07% (H)
The molar mass is known to be 98.96g/moles
First, assume a 100g of the sample
 - 71.65g (Cl)
 - 24.27g (C)
 - 4.07g (H)

Second, Convert gram to moles
 - 71.65g  x  1moles / 35.5g  =  2.018 moles of Cl
 - 24.27g  x  1moles / 12g  =  2.02 moles of C
 - 4.07g  x  1moles / 1g  = 4.07 moles of H

Third, divide each moles by smallest number of moles
 - Cl  :  2.018 moles / 2.018 moles  =  1 mole
 - C  :  2.02 moles / 2.018 moles  =  1 mole
 - H  :  4.07 moles / 2.018 moles  =  2 moles

Finally we can get the Empirical formula like this :  CClH2

Now, we can find the molecular formula by finding the mass of the Empirical formula and setting up a ratio:

CClH2 → C2Cl2H4


*If you want more information about Empirical formula
I recommend you to visit http://www.chem.tamu.edu/class/majors/tutorialnotefiles/empirical.htm


After we had finished the note, Mr. Liberman introduced an activity.  This activity is called Crash of Avogadro Airlines Flight 1023.
The goal of this activity is finding a murderer.
On the first and second side of the sheet, there are 3 tables which help to find the horrible murderer.
In this activity each chemical can be used once or no time.

Tonight's homework is to finish the hydrate lab, do a Magnesium Oxide pre-lab and Avogadro Airline activity which is due on Wednesday.
Just a reminder, the unit 3 test is on Thursday.


The next scribe is Ellen Hirsch

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