Chemistry › Section C · Composition of substances and solutions › Topic C.2
Empirical and molecular formulas
When a chemist makes or finds a new substance, the first question is what it is made of. Percent composition answers that by mass, and a few mole calculations turn those percentages back into a chemical formula.
In this topic
- From a formula to its make-up, and back
- Percent composition from a formula
- Percent composition from measured masses
- Empirical and molecular formulas
- Finding an empirical formula
- When the ratio is not whole
- Worked example: a phosphorus oxide
- From empirical to molecular formula
- Worked example: lactic acid
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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