Chemistry 5

Chapter-3
Chemical Compounds

23 September 2002
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 Molecular Compounds
Molecular compounds are made up of discrete units
called molecules. Each molecule consists of covalently
bonded elements.

Chemical Formula: describes a molecule in terms of

1. elements present
2. relative number of atoms of each element

cyclohexane: C6H12

benzene: C6H6
 Molecular Compounds, cont’d
ƒ Empirical Formula: The most basic representation
of a compound. It shows the types of elements and
relative amounts (like chemical formula) but with
amounts reduced to lowest whole number ratio.

acetylene: C2H2 EF = CH
benzene: C6H6 EF = CH

empirical formula does not provide a lot of

information about a compound, except
composition.

ƒ Molecular Formula: Provides the elements and

relative amounts for a molecule in a molecular
compound.
The molecular formula will be an integer multiple
of the empirical formula.

acetylene: EF = CH MF = C2H2
benzene: EF = CH MF = C6H6

What about how elements are

bonded to one another?
 Molecular Compounds, cont’d
ƒ Structural Formula: Provides types of elements
and relative amounts, and moreover, order in which
atoms are bonded and the types of bonds used.
An alternative is the condensed structural formula,
which shows connectivity but not types of bonds.

1-propanol C3H8O
(propyl alcohol) CH3CH2CH2OH
H H H

H C C C OH

H H H

2-propanol C3H8O
(isopropyl alcohol) CH3CHOHCH3
H OH H

H C C C H

H H H
 Ionic Compounds
Ionic compounds are made up of positive and
negative ions joined together by electrostatic
forces. Typically, ionic compounds consist of a
metallic element, which loses an electron, and a
nonmetallic element, which gains an electron.

ƒ Cations: the positively charged element that has

given up an electron; e.g., Na+ (in NaCl).
ƒ Anions: the negatively charged element (or group
of elements) that has taken up an electron; e.g., Cl-
(in NaCl).
ƒ Formula unit: The smallest neutral group ions with
the same ratio of atoms (ions)as in the chemical
formula.
The formula unit is not a molecule.
Molecular vs. Ionic Compounds
 Moles & Chemical Compunds

ƒ Molecular and formula masses:

The molecular and formula masses– the masses of
these units in atomic mass units– are obtained from
weighted average atomic masses

C6H6: molecular mass = 6(atomic mass C) +6(atomic mass H)

= 6(12.01) + 6(1.008)
=
FeSO4: formula mass = atomic mass Fe + atomic mass S +
4(atomic mass O)
= 55.847 + 32.066 + 4(15.999)
=
ƒ A mole is a mole?
A mole of compound is the amount containing
Avogadro’s number (6.02 x 1023)molecules or
formula units.
The molar mass is the mass of 1-mole of compound
 Chemical Composition
The chemical formula of a compound provides
quantitative information about composition, etc.

ƒ formula Æ percent composition

Example: H2O
1. Calculate total mass = 2 x mass(H) + 1x mass(O)
= 2x1.008 + 15.999
%H = 2 x mass(H)
total mass x100%
%O = 1 x mass(O) x100%
total mass
ƒ percent composition Æ formula

See example 3-6 in text (typical)

ƒ combustion analysis: common analytic

method for determining chemical
composition.
CxHyOz + xs O2 Æ xCO2 + y/2(H2O)
Measure amount CO2 and H2O produced in combustion
reaction provides empirical formula for C and H.