Molecular Formula Video Lessons

Concept:

# Problem: A compound composed of 2.1% H, 29.8% N, and 68.1% O has a molar mass of approximately 50 g/mol.What is the molecular formula of the compound?

###### FREE Expert Solution

Molecular formula is a chemical formula that gives the total number of atoms of the elements in a compound.

Empirical formula is a chemical formula that gives the relative proportions of elements in a compound but not the actual number of atoms of elements in a compound.

In this problem, we are provided with mass percentages of H, N and O. The molar mass if given (50 g/mol). We will calculate the empirical formula through these steps:

• Assuming that the percentages given are masses.
• Dividing the masses of H, N and O by their average atomic masses.
• Dividing the obtained numbers by the smallest number among them.
• Rounding off the final numbers to get coefficients of H, N and O.

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###### Problem Details

A compound composed of 2.1% H, 29.8% N, and 68.1% O has a molar mass of approximately 50 g/mol.

What is the molecular formula of the compound?