Question

How would you find the molecular formula from the empirical formula?

Answer 1

Hint:As we know that the empirical formula of any compound is that formula which basically gives us the simplest whole ratio of atoms of the various elements which are present in the molecule of that compound.

Complete step-by-step answer:We have already discussed the empirical formula where we can count the number of atoms present in a molecule and can be given as the simplest whole number ratio. We also know that the molecular formula of a compound is that formula which gives us the actual number of atoms of various elements which are present in the molecule of any compound.
For instance: let us assume a compound of Glucose having the chemical formula as \[{C_6}{H_{12}}{O_6}\] and the empirical formula of this compound is written as $C{H_2}O$ which is showing that the carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are present in the ratio of $1:2:1$. Thus we can say that we can write the molecular formula of a compound which can be shown as below:
$M.F = E.F \times n$
Where, ‘n’ can be calculated by dividing the molar mass and the empirical formula mass of the compound.
Therefore, if we are given an empirical formula then we can calculate the molecular formula of the compound.

Note:Remember that the molecular formula and the empirical formula can be determined by the molar mass if mass percentage of various elements of any compound is given. We simply divide the percentage and the atomic mass of the given element of the compound which will give us the relative number of atoms and thus the smallest whole number so obtained will be considered for identifying the ratio of the atoms present in the compound.