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Empirical formula mass

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Intro to Chemistry

Definition

The empirical formula mass is the sum of the atomic masses of all atoms in an empirical formula. It represents the simplest ratio of elements in a compound.

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5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. The empirical formula mass is calculated using the atomic masses from the periodic table.
  2. It is used to convert between grams and moles for an empirical formula.
  3. The molecular formula mass is always a whole number multiple of the empirical formula mass.
  4. To find the empirical formula, you first need to determine the moles of each element in a compound.
  5. Empirical formulas do not provide information about the actual number of atoms, just their ratio.

Review Questions

  • How do you calculate the empirical formula mass?
  • Why is it important to determine the moles of each element when finding an empirical formula?
  • What is the relationship between molecular formula mass and empirical formula mass?

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