3.

5 SYNTHESISING CHEMICAL FORMULAE

ACTIVITY 1

ION Cl -1 Br -1 I -1 OH -1 NO3 -1 CO3 -2 O -2 SO 4 -2

K+1
Na+1
Ag+
Li+
NH4+
Ba+2
Ca+2
Cu+2
Mg+2
Zn+2
Fe+2
Pb+2
Sn+2
Fe+3
Al+3
Cr+3

Write a chemical formulae from the matrix above.

ACTIVITY 2

CO2

1.Based on the chemical formula above, what can you gather about:
a) The element that make up the substance.
b) The ratio or number of atoms of each elements in the substance.

2.The molecular formula of glucose is

C6H12 O6

a) How many elements are there in the compound.

b) How many atoms are there in the compound
c) State the ratio of the elements.
d) Write the empirical formula of the compound.

3. Determine the molecular formula from the information given.

 (H = 1, C =12, N = 14, O =16, P =31)

compound empirical formula relative molecular formula

molecular mass
Ethandioic acid CH 2 O 120
hydrazine NH 2 32
phosphorous oxide P2O3 220
pentene CH 2 70

ACTIVITY 3
1. A student carry out an experiment to determine the empirical formula of magnesium
oxide.
The results of the experiment are as follow:

Mass of crucible and lid 24.0 g

Mass of crucible,lid and magnesium tape 26.4 g
Mass of crucible,lid and magnesium that has been 28.0 g
used

a.(i) What is the mass of the magnesium that has been used? ___________________

(ii) What is the mass of oxygen which reacted with magnesium? _______________

(iii) Determine the empirical formula of magnesium oxide (O=16, Mg=24)

b. Based on the formula, how many moles of magnesium and oxygen atoms have
reacted?

___________________________________________________________________

c. Why is the lid removed at intervals?

_________________________________________________________________

d. Why do we need to clean the magnesium tape until it shine?

_________________________________________________________________

e. State one precaution taken in this experiment

 _________________________________________________________________

f. Give another example of oxide that used the same method to determine its
empirical formula.

_________________________________________________________________

g. Define empirical formula

___________________________________________________________________
_

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_

h. Name the residue left in the crucible. What colour was it?

___________________________________________________________________
_

ACTIVITY 4

1) 2.8 g of iron combines with 3.55 g 2. One hydrocarbon is found to contain

chlorine.What is the empirical 80% of carbon and 20% of hydrogen based
formula of the compound produced on its mass. Fine the empirical formula of
(Fe = 56, Cl = 35.5) the hydrocarbon. (C =12, H = 1)

3. When 3.20 oxide of metal Y was 4.A compound consists of 15.23 g of

reduced, 2.24 g metal Y formed. sodium, 52.98 g of bromine and 31.79 of
Determine the empirical formula of the oxygen. Determine the empirical formula
metal oxide. of the compound. (Na =23,O =16,Br =80)
(M = 56, O =16)
5.A compound consists of 1.8 g of
carbon,0.30 g of hydrogen and 1.6 g of
oxygen.The relative molecular mass is 148.
Fine:
i)the empirical formula and
ii)the molecular formula of the compound.
6.Hydrocarbon X has a composition base of
C =85.71% and H =14.29%. The relative
molecular mass of X is 56. Calculate
i)the empirical formula of X
ii)the molecular formula of X
ANSWERS

ACTIVITY 2 ACTIVITY 3
1a) carbon and oxygen a.i) 2.4g
b) 1 carbon : 2 oxygen ii) 1.6g
iii) MgO
2a) 3 elements
b) 24 atoms b.1 mol magnesium: 1 mol oxygen
c) 1 carbon:2 hydrogen :1 oxygen c. to allow oxygen to support oxidation
d) C 1 H2 O1 to prevent MgO loss to the surrounding
d. to remove the oxide coating
3.C4 H8 O4 , N2 H4, P4 O6, C5 H10 e. repeat heating,cooling and weighing
until constant weight is obtained
ACTIVITY 4 f.. zinc oxide
1.FeCl2 2.CH3 g. chemical formula of a compound
with the simplest ratio of atom in it
3. Y2O3 4.NaBrO3 h. magnesium oxide which is white in
colour.
5.i) C3H6O2 6.i) CH2

ii) C6H12O4 ii) C4H8