1.

[SBPmidyearF407-03]
Diagram 3 shows the setup of apparatus to determine the empirical formula of X oxide.
X oxide
W

Dry hydrogen

Hydrogen

Heat

DIAGRAM 3
The following results were obtained from the experiment:
Mass of empty combustion tube
Mass of combustion tube + X oxide
Mass of combustion tube + X

= 16.82 g
= 18.27 g
= 17.98 g

(a) Name the chemical substances W, Y and Z used in Diagram 3. [3M]

W

: ...

: ...

: ....

(b) Before X oxide is heated, hydrogen gas is allowed to pass through the apparatus until
all the air in the combustion tube is completely removed.
How are you going to ensure that all the air has been removed? [2M]
.................
.................
(c) Determine the empirical formula of X oxide. [3M]
[Relative atomic mass: O=16, X=64]

(d) Can the empirical formula of magnesium oxide be determined using the same
arrangement of apparatus as above? Explain your answer. [2M]
.................
.................
2. [SBPdiag08-02]
An experiment was carried out in the school laboratory to determine the empirical
formula of an oxide of copper by flowing hydrogen gas over heated copper oxide. Table 2
shows the results obtained.
Description
Combustion tube + asbestos paper
Combustion tube + asbestos paper + copper oxide
Combustion tube + asbestos paper + copper
TABLE 2

Mass (g)
36.20
39.40
38.76

(a) What is meant by empirical formula? [1M]

.................
.................
(b) Draw a labelled diagram to show the setup of the apparatus that can be used to carry
out the experiment above. [2M]

(c) State one precautionary step to be taken when carrying out the experiment above.
[1M]
.................
(d) Based on the results obtained,
(i) calculate the mass of copper and oxygen that have reacted. [1M]

(ii) determine the ratio of moles of copper atom to oxygen atom. [1M]
[Relative atomic mass: Cu=64, O=16]

(iii) determine the empirical formula of the copper oxide [1M]

(e) Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction between copper oxide and
hydrogen. [1M]
.................
(f) Can the empirical formula of magnesium oxide be determined through the experiment
above? Give one reason for your answer. [2M]
.................
.................
3. [SPM03-01]
Diagram 1 shows the set up apparatus for an experiment to determine the empirical
formula of magnesium oxide.

Diagram 1
Result
Mass of crucible + lid
Mass of crucible + lid + Magnesium ribbon
Mass of crucible + lid + magnesium oxide

= 24.0 g
= 26.4 g
= 28.0 g

(a) What is meant by empirical formula? [1M]

.................
.................
(b) Based on the above results,
(i) Calculate the mass of magnesium and the mass of oxygen that have reacted. [1M]

(ii) Calculate the mole ratio of magnesium atoms to oxygen atoms. [1M]
[Relative atomic mass: O=16, Mg=24]

(iii) Determine the empirical formula of magnesium oxide. [1M]

.................
(iv) Write the chemical equation for the reaction in the experiment [1M]
.................
(c) Why was the crucible lid opened once in a while during the experiment? [1M]
.................
.................
(d) Metal X is placed below hydrogen in the reactivity series. You are required to carry
out an experiment to determine the empirical formula of the oxide of metal X. the
apparatus provided are combustion tube, glass tube, cork, Bunsen burner and porcelain
dish
(i) Draw the labelled diagram of the set-up of the apparatus for the experiment. [2M]

(ii) Describe the steps should be taken to ensure that all the air in the combustion tube
has been expelled. [3M]
.................
.................
.................
.................
.................
EMPIRICAL FORMULA

1. [MRSM11-04] What is the meaning of empirical formula?

A Formula that shows the actual number of atoms of each element in the
compound
B Formula that shows the simplest ratio of atoms of each element in the compound
C Formula that shows how the atoms of elements are bonded together
D Formula that shows the type of element in the compound
2. [SBPTrial07-14] The diagram below shows the molecular formula of glucose.

C6H12O6

What is the empirical formula for glucose?

A
B
C
D

CH2O
CH2O2
C2H4O2
C6H12O6

Calculation of Empirical Formula

3. [SBPtrial11-28] In an experiment, 24 g of element X react with 32 g sulphur to form a

compound. What is the empirical formula of that compound?
[Relative atomic mass ;
X = 6, S = 32 ]
A
B
C
D

XS
X2S
X2S3
X4S

4. [SPM09-38] A sample of iron oxide contains 5.6 g of iron and 2.4 g of oxygen. What is the
empirical formula of this compound? [Relative atomic mass: O=16, Fe=56]
A
B
C
D

Fe3O4
Fe2O3
FeO2
FeO

5. [SPM07-03] Which compound has the empirical formula of CH2O?

A
B
C
D

HCOOH
CH3COOH
CH3COOCH3
HCOOC2H5

6. [SBPdiag07-32] 0.32 g of metal X combines with 0.36 g of non-metal Y. What is the empirical
formula for this compound? [Relative atomic mass: X=64, Y=35.5]
A
B
C
D

XY
X2Y
XY2
XY3

7. [SPM04-41] The table shows the mass of elements M and O in an oxide, and the relative
atomic mass of elements M and O.
Element
Mass/g
Relative atomic mass

M
5.6
56

O
2.4
16

The empirical formula for oxide of M is

A
B
C
D

M2O3
M2O
MO2
MO

8. [SPM03-43] Stainless steel used to make surgical scalpels contains 71.5% iron, 18.0 %
chromium, 8.0 % nickel, and 2.5 % other elements.
If the mass of surgical scalpels is 60.0 g, what is the mass of iron in it?
A
B
C
D

4.8 g
10.8 g
42.9 g
71.5 g

9. [SPM03-02] Diagram 2 shows the set up of the apparatus to determine the empirical formula
of a metal oxide

Dry hydrogen
gas
Metal Oxide
Heat

Diagram 2
Which of the following metal oxide is suitable to be used in Diagram 2?
A
B
C
D

Zinc oxide
Magnesium oxide
Aluminium oxide
copper (II) oxide

10. [SPM11-07] Diagram 1 shows the apparatus set-up to determine the empirical formula of
copper(II) oxide.

Diagram 1
The dry hydrogen gas must be flowed through the apparatus for several minutes before heating
the copper(II) oxide. What is the reason for this action to be taken?
A
B
C
D

To ensure all the copper(II) oxide has changed into copper

To ensure all air has been removed so that explosion can be prevented
To prevent copper from reacting with air to form copper(II) oxide
To prevent the water from flowing towards the hot porcelain dish and cracks the
combustion tube

11. [SPM06-07] The empirical formula of copper oxide is determined by its reaction with
hydrogen. The heating, cooling and weighing steps are repeated several times but a constant
mass of the product is still not obtained.
Which of the following can be done to get a constant mass of the product?
A
B
C
D

During
During
During
During

heating, dry hydrogen gas is passed through

cooling, dry hydrogen gas is passed through
weighing, the combustion tube must be stoppered
heating, excess hydrogen gas is burnt

12. [SPM06-06] Which of the following set ups of apparatus is correct to prepare hydrogen gas?
A
B

13. [SBPTrial08-17] Diagram 5 shows the set up of apparatus to determine the empirical
formula for metal oxide.
Metal

Heat
Diagram 5
Which of the following metals is most suitable to be used in the diagram?
A
B
C
D

Lead
Silver
Copper
Magnesium

14. [SBPtrial11-15] Diagram 5 shows the set-up of apparatus to determine the empirical
formula of a metal oxide.

Diagram 5
Which of the following metal is suitable to be used in the experiment?
A
B
C
D

LeadMetal oxide
Copper
Aluminium
Stanum

Burning of excess hydrogen gas

15. [SBPdiag06-11] The diagram shows the set up of the apparatus for an experiment to
determine the empirical formula of a metal oxide.

Dry hydr

Heat
Which of the following information is not needed to determine the empirical formula of the metal
oxide?
A
B
C
D

Mass
Mass
Mass
Mass

of
of
of
of

the metal oxide

the
hydrogen
Copper(II)
oxide
the oxygen
the metal

Heat

Burning of excess gas X

16. [SBPmidYear06-10]The diagram shows the set up of the apparatus for an experiment.

Copper(II) oxide can react with gas X to produce copper. What is gas X?
A
B
C
D

Oxygen
Nitrogen
Hydrogen
Carbon dioxide

17. [SPM04-38] A compound with formula X2CO3 has a relative formula mass of 138.
What is the relative atomic mass of X? [Relative atomic mass: C=12 and O=16]
A
B
C
D

39
69
78
110

18. [SPM05-40] 5 g of element X reacted with 8 g of element Y to form a compound with the
formula XY2. What is the relative atomic mass of element X? [Relative atomic mass of Y=80]
A
B
C
D

25
40
50
100

19. [SBPmidYear06-32] A compound consists of 85 % of carbon and 15 % of hydrogen.

The relative molecular mass of the compound is 28. Find the molecular formula of the
compound. [Relative atomic mass of H=1, C=12]
A

C2H4

B
C
D

C2H6
C3H6
C3H8

20. [SBPdiag08-42] A hydrocarbon has the empirical formula of CH3 with a molar mass of 30 g
mol-1. Which of the following is the molecular formula of the hydrocarbon?
[Relative atomic mass: H=1, C=12 ]
A
B
C
D

CH3
C2H6
C3H9
C4H12