Lower 6 Chemistry

Mole Concept

Work sheet

1. Empirical and Molecular Formulae

Example: A compound contains 24.24% C, 4.04% H and 71.72% Cl. The molar mass of the
compound is 99 g/mol. Calculate the empirical and molecular formulae of the compound.
SOLUTION

This is the same

% composition

C
24.24

H
4.04

Cl
71.72

Mass(g)
Atomic mass for

24.24
12

4.04
1

71.72
35.5

24.24
=2.02
12

4.04
=4.04
1

71.72
=2.02
35.5

2.02
=1
2.02

4.04
=2
2.02

2.02
=1
2.02

for mass in 100g

To find the no. of

each element
No. of moles

moles:
Mass/atomic
mass
To find the mole

Mole ratio

ratio: divide
throughout by
smallest no. of

mole
C=1
H=2
Cl=1
NB: If the mole ratio ends in (a) 0.5 then multiply by 2, (b) 0.3 multiply by 3, (c) 0.25 multiply
by 4 and (d) 0.9 round up to nearest whole number.
Empirical Formula:

C H 2 Cl

Molecular Formula: n(C H 2 Cl)=99 g /mol

Molar Mass of

C H 2 Cl

n ( 48.5 ) =99

n=

(12+2+35.5)=49.5 g /mol

99
=2
49.5

Molecular Formula is two (2) times the empirical formula

Molecular Formula:

2 ( C H 2 Cl )

C2 H 4 Cl2

Exercise #1
1. Calculate the empirical formula of a compound composed of 38.67 % C, 16.22 % H, and
45.11 %N
2. Caffeine is 49.48% C, 5.15% H, 28.87% N and 16.49% O. What is its empirical formula?
3. Ibuprofen, a common headache remedy, has the empirical formula of

C7 H 9 O

and molar

mass of 215g/mol. Calculate the molecular formula.

2. Calculating Empirical formula and Molecular formula using Combustion reactions
Example: 0.5g of an organic compound X containing H:C:O produces 0.733g of carbon dioxide
and 0.3g of water on complete combustion. The RMM of the compound is 60. Calculate the
empirical and molecular formulae.
SOLUTION
C x H y Oz +O2 CO 2 + H 2 O
The masses for the compound X (0.5g), carbon dioxide (0.733g) and water (0.3g) are given.
Carbon dioxide:- Find the mass of C
1. . To find the mass of C, we use carbon dioxide since it is the only C containing compound
for the products formed.
First, find the moles of carbon dioxide
1 mol CO2 weighs

44 g
mol

1 g CO2 has

0.733 g
=0.0167 mol
44 g /mol

Second, in order to find the mass of C, the mol of C must be known.

Carbon dioxide is made up of one Carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. Therefore mole ratio of
C:

CO2

is 1:1. Hence, the number of moles for Carbon is 0.0167 mol.

mole ratio of C :CO 2

1:1

0.0167 :0.0167

Lastly, mass of Carbon

g
g
1 mol C weighs 12
0.0167 mol C weighs 0.01666 mol 12
=0.2004 g
mol
mol
The mass of C is 0.2004g and mole of C is 0.0167mol.
Water: - Find the mass of H.
2. We use water since it is the only H containing compound for the products formed.
First, find the moles of carbon dioxide
18 g
1 mol H 2 O weighs
mol

1 g H 2 O has

0.3 g
=0.0167 mol
18 g
mol

Second, in order to find the mass of H, the mol of H must be known.

Water is made up of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms. Therefore mole ratio of
H2O : H

is 1:2. Hence, the number of moles for H is 0.0333 mol H.

mole ratio of H : H 2 O

2:1

2(0.0167) :0.0167

Lastly, mass of Hydrogen

g
g
1 mol H weighs 1
0.0333mol H weighs 0.0333 mol 1
=0.0333 g
mol
mol
The mass of H is 0.0333g and mole of H is 0.0333 mol.
Oxygen
3. Mass of oxygen atom = Mass of compound X (Mass of hydrogen + Mass of carbon)

Mass of oxygen=0.500 g( 0.03334+ 0.2004 ) g=0.26626 g

Mole of oxygen
1 mol O weighs

16 g
mol

0.22626 g O has 0.22626 g

mol
=0.0166 mol O
16 g

Since we know the number of moles for C, H & O, then we go ahead and find the mole ratio
rather than using the masses.

No. of moles
Mole ratio

Empirical Formula:

C H2O

Molecular formula:

n ( C H 2 O )=60

C
0.0167
0.0167
=1
0.0166

n ( 30 )=60

n=

H
0.0333
0.0333
=2
0.0166

O
0.0166
0.0166
=1
0.0166

60
=2
30

MF =2 ( C H 2 O ) =C2 H 4 O2

Exercise #2
1. A compound Z contains C:H:O and RMM is 46. Complete combustion of 1.0g of Z gives
1.91g carbon dioxide and 1.17g Hydrogen. Find the empirical and molecular formulae of
compound Z.
2. When 3.79 grams of an organic compound containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen is
burned, 6.61 grams of CO2 and 3.59 grams of H2O are produced. What is the empirical
formula of this compound?
3. Molar concentration and Mass concentrations

Example: 4.90g of pure sulphuric acid was dissolved in water; the resulting total volume was
200 cm3. 20.7 cm3 of this solution was found on titration, to completely neutralize 10.0 cm3 of a
sodium hydroxide solution.
a) Write the balanced equation for the titration reaction, include state symbols.

b) Calculate the molarity of the sulphuric acid solution.

c) Calculate the moles of sulphuric acid neutralized.
d) Calculate the moles of sodium hydroxide neutralized.
e) Calculate the molar concentration of the sodium hydroxide.
SOLUTION
1.

H 2 SO 4(aq) +2 NaOH (aq) Na2 SO 4(aq) +2 H 2 O(l )

2.

g
1 mol H 2 SO 4 weighs 98
mol

4.9 g H 2 SO 4 has

Molar concentration H 2 SO4 =

3.

no . of moles
0.05 mol
=
=0.25 mol /dm
3
volume of solution (d m ) 0.200 d m3

mole of H 2 SO 4 20.7 c m 3=concentration of H 2 SO 4 volume of solution

mole of H 2 SO 4 =0.25

mol
0.0207 d m 3=0.0052mol
3
dm

4. From the balanced equation in part (a), 1 mole of

NaOH. Hence, mole ratio of
Therefore, 0.0052 mol
5.

4.90 g
=0.05 mol
g
98
mol

H 2 SO 4

reacts with 2 moles of

H 2 SO 4 : NaOH is 1 :2.

H 2 SO 4

Molar concentration NaOH=

reacts with 0.0104 mol NaOH

no . of moles
0.0104 mol
=
=1.04 mol/ dm
3
volume of solution(d m ) 0.01 d m 3

Exercise #3
1. A solution of sodium hydroxide contained 0.250 mol dm-3. Using phenolphthalein
indicator, titration of 25.0 cm3 of this solution required 22.5 cm3 of a hydrochloric acid
solution for complete neutralization.
a) Write the equation for the titration reaction, include state symbols.
b) What apparatus would you use to measure out:
(i) The sodium hydroxide solution?
(ii) The hydrochloric acid solution?
c) What is the indicator color change at the end-point?
d) Calculate the moles of sodium hydroxide neutralized.

e) Calculate the moles of hydrochloric acid neutralized.

f) Calculate the molar concentration and mass concentration of the hydrochloric acid.
2. A solution made from pure barium hydroxide contained 2.74 g in exactly 100 cm3 of
water. Using phenolphthalein indicator, titration of 20.0 cm3 of this solution required 18.7
cm3 of a hydrochloric acid solution for complete neutralization.
(a) Write the equation for the titration reaction and include state symbols.
(b) Calculate the molarity of the barium hydroxide solution.
(c) Calculate the moles of barium hydroxide neutralized.
(d) Calculate the moles of hydrochloric acid neutralized.
(e) Calculate the molarity of the hydrochloric acid.

4. Molecular and Ionic/Net ionic equations

A molecular equation is one that shows the chemical formulae of all reactants and products
2 Na3 PO 4 (aq)+3 CaCl 2 (aq)6 NaCl(aq)+Ca 3 ( PO 4 )2 ( s)
An ionic equation is an equation that shows only the ions reacting and omits the spectator ions,
which go through the reaction unchanged.
To write the complete ionic equation:
Start with a balanced molecular equation
Break all soluble strong compounds (compounds with (aq) beside them) into their ions
Indicate the correct formula and charge of each ion.
Indicate the correct number of each ion.
Write (aq) after each ion.

DO NOT BREAK COMPOUNDS THAT ARE IN SOLID, GASEOUS AND LIQUID

STATES
Example:
6 Na+ (aq) + 2 PO43- (aq) + 3 Ca2+ (aq) + 6 Cl- (aq) 6 Na+ (aq) + 6 Cl- (aq) + Ca3(PO4)2 (s)
Cross out the spectator ions that are present
6 Na+ (aq) + 2 PO43- (aq) + 3 Ca2+ (aq) + 6 Cl- (aq) 6 Na+ (aq) + 6 Cl- (aq) + Ca3(PO4)2 (s)
Write the "leftovers" as the net ionic equation
2 PO43- (aq) + 3 Ca2+ (aq) Ca3(PO4)2 (s)

Exercise #4
Complete and write the ionic equations for the following:1.

Silver nitrate+ Sodium chloride Silver chloride+ Sodium nitrate

2.

lead nitrate+ sodium chloride lead chloride+ sodium nitrate

3.

Barium chloride + sodium sulphate writethe products

4.

Sodium hydroxide + Aluminium sulphate writethe products

5. Avogadros Law
Avogadro's Law states that equal volumes of gases at the same temperature and pressure
contain the same number of molecules regardless of their chemical nature and physical
properties.
V1 V2
=
n 1 n2
Mole
1 mole (mol) is the amount of matter that contains as many objects (atoms, molecules) as the
number of atoms in isotopically pure 12C
1 mole contains 6.02 x 1023 particles
6.022 x 1023 is known as Avogadros number
1 mol 12C atoms = 6.02 x 1023 12C atoms
1 mol H2O molecules = 6.02 x 1023 H2O molecules
1 mole NO3- ions = 6.02 x 1023 NO3- ions

Molar mass
The mass of one mole of a substance (chemical element or chemical compound) and is measured
in g/mol