How do you calculate the empirical and molecular formulas of a compound in chemistry?

Empirical and molecular formulas are essential concepts in chemistry to determine the molecular composition of a substance. Empirical formula represents the simplest whole number ratio of atoms of different elements present in a compound. On the other hand, molecular formula indicates the exact number of atoms of each element present in a molecule.

To calculate the empirical formula of a compound, you need to find the mole ratio of different elements present in the compound. This can be done by converting the masses of different elements to moles and then dividing them by the smallest number of moles obtained. The obtained ratio represents the empirical formula of the compound.

To calculate the molecular formula, you need to know the empirical formula and the molecular mass of the compound. The molecular mass can be determined experimentally or by adding the atomic masses of different elements present in the molecule. Once you have the empirical formula and the molecular mass, you can calculate the molecular formula by multiplying the empirical formula by a factor that gives the molecular formula mass.