Question

How can the actual molecular formula be determined?

a)from the molar mass divided by the mass of the empirical formula

b)from the empirical formula alone

c)from the molar mass multiplied by the mass of the empirical formula

d)from the molar mass alone

Answer 1

Convert the mass of each element tomoles using the molar mass from the periodic table. Divide each mole value by the smallest number of molescalculated. Round to the nearest whole number. This is the mole ratio of the elements and is represented by subscripts in the empirical formula.

from the molar mass divided by the mass of the empirical formula