THE CHEMICAL FORMULA
Neil Jozsef C. Macion
Kristi Mari N. Montefalcon
Maria Angelica Fatima Navarro
What is Chemical
Formula?......
Chemists use Chemical Formula to express the
composition of molecules and ionic compounds in
terms of chemical symbols. By composition we
mean not only the elements present but also the
ratios in which the atoms are combined. Here we
are mainly composed of two formulas : Molecular
formulas and Empirical formulas.
Structural Formula
The structural formula of a chemical compound is a graphical
representation of the molecular structure, showing how the atoms
are arranged. The chemical bonding within the molecule is also
shown, either explicitly or implicitly.
Example:
H2O The structural formula
of water is
H O H
The structural formula is important is important for it helps us in
making the Ball-and-stick model
Molecular formulas
The molecular formula shows the exact number of atoms of each
element n the smallest unit of a substance.
Example:
H2 is the molecular formula for Hydrogen
O2 is the molecular formula for Oxygen
H2O is the molecular formula for Water
The subscript numeral indicates the number of atoms of an
element present. There is no subscript for O in H2O because there
is only one atom of oxygen in a molecule of water, and so the
number “one” is omitted in the formula.
Molecular Models
Molecules are too small for us to observe directly. An effective means
of visualizing them is by the use of molecular models. Two standard
types of molecular models are the Ball-and-stick models and the
Space-filling models.
Ball-and-stick Model
In chemistry, a ball-and-stick model
is a molecular model of a chemical
substance which aims to display both
the three-dimensional position of the
atoms and the bonds between them.
The atoms are typically
represented by And are connected by rods
spheres which represent the bonds.
Space-filling model
In chemistry, a space-filling model, also known as calotte
model, is a type of three-dimensional molecular model, where the
atoms are represented by spheres whose radii are proportional to
the radii of the atoms, and whose center-to-center distances are
proportional to the distances between the atomic nuclei, all in the
same scale.
Here’s an example of a
space filling model of
Cyclohexane (C6H12)
Example
Write the molecular formula for
methanol, an organic solvent
and anti freeze, from its ball-
and-stick model, shown in
the margin.
Answer: CH3OH
Solution:
There are four H atoms, one C atom,
and one O atom. Therefore the
molecular formula is CH4O. However,
the standard way of writing the
molecular formula for methanol is
CH3OH because it shows how the
atoms are joined in the molecule.
QUIZ!!!!
1. Write the molecular formula
of chloroform, which is used
as a solvent and a cleansing
agent. The ball-and-stick
model of chloroform is shown
in the margin.
2. Write the molecular formula of glycine, an
amino-acid present in protiens. The color
codes are: Black(carbon), blue (nitrogen),
red (oxygen), and gray (hydrogen).
3. Write the formula of ethanol.
The color codes are: black
(carbon), red (oxygen), and
gray (hydrogen).
ANSWER KEY
1. CHCl3
2. C2H5NO2
3. C2H6O
Empirical formula
The Empirical formulas are the simples chemical formulas;
they are written by reducing the subscripts in the molecular formulas
to the smallest possible whole numbers. The empirical formula of
hydrogen peroxide is HO. Thus the empirical formula tells us which
elements are present and the simplest whole-number ratio of their
atoms, but not necessarily the actual number of atoms in a given
molecule.
In finding the Empirical formula
you divide the molecular
formula with its greatest We search for the greatest
common multiple until it will be common multiple in this
simplified. formula
Example:
C2H8
8/2 = 4
Which is 2 so we 2/2 = 1
will divide the
formula by 2 So the Answer will be
CH4
Although there are some exceptions to other
formulas. In this equation you noticed
Example: that this formula has a odd or
prime number
Mn2O3
If the equation cannot be simplified you will just copy it for
there is no fraction or decimal in the molecular formula of
atoms
Example
Write the example of the following molecules:
(a) Acetylene (C2H2)
(b) glucose (C6H12O6), a substance known as blood sugar; and
(c) (N2O), a gas that is used as an anesthetic gas and as an aerosol propellant
for whipped creams.
Answers
(a) CH
(b) CH2O
(c) N2O
Solution
(a) There are two carbon atoms and two hydrogen atoms in acetylene.
Dividing the subscripts by 2, we obtain the empirical formula CH.
(b) In glucose there are 6 carbon atoms, 12 hydrogen atoms, and 6 oxygen
atoms. Dividing the subscripts by 6, we obtain the empirical formula
CH2O. Not that if we had divided the subscripts by 3, we would have
obtained the formula (C2H4O2). Although the ratio of carbon to hydrogen
to oxygen atoms in C2H4O2 is the same as that in C6H12O6 (1:2:1),
C2H4O2 is not the simplest formula because its subscripts are not in the
smallest whole number ratio.
(c) Because the subscripts in N2O are already the smallest possible whole
numbers, the empirical formula for nitrous oxide is the same as its
molecular formula.
!!!QUIZ!!!
1. What are the empirical formula of the following compounds:
(a) C2N2
(b) C6H6
(c) C9H20
(d) P4O10
(e) B2H6
(f) Al2Br6
(g) Na2S2O4
(h) N2O5
(i) Kr2Cr2O7
Answers
(a) CN
(b) CH
(c) C9H20
(d) P2O5
(e) BH3
(f) AlBr3
(g) NaSO2
(h) N2O5
(I ) Kr2Cr2O7
