Molecular formula:
- A molecular formula is a chemical notation that indicates the number and kind of components present in a single molecule of a substance.
- The simplest form of the molecular formula is the empirical formula. It can figure out what amounts each constituent in the molecule should be in.
- The Molecular formula empiricalnempirical formula, where n is an integer multiple.
Example:
- For calculating molecular formula let us take a compound having carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. The molecular weight of the compound.
Step 1: Calculating the weight of the particular atom
Multiplying percent composition by weight we get,
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Step 2: Dividing each value by its atomic weight
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Step 3: Rounding off to the closest whole number:
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Step 4: Writing molecular formula:
Write each value of the whole number along with its atom.
We get the molecular formula as.