Determine the empirical formula of each of the following compounds if a sample contains (b) 12.0 g calcium and 2.8 g nitrogen

Key Concepts

Empirical Formula

The empirical formula of a compound represents the simplest whole-number ratio of the elements present in that compound. It is derived from the relative amounts of each element, typically expressed in grams, and is calculated by converting these masses to moles and simplifying the ratio.

Molar Mass

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, usually expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). It is essential for converting the mass of an element to moles, which is a necessary step in determining the empirical formula. For example, the molar mass of calcium (Ca) is approximately 40.08 g/mol, and for nitrogen (N), it is about 14.01 g/mol.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the area of chemistry that deals with the quantitative relationships between the reactants and products in a chemical reaction. In the context of finding an empirical formula, stoichiometry allows us to calculate the number of moles of each element from their masses, facilitating the determination of their simplest ratio.