IGCSE CHEMISTRY LESSON 3

Section 1
a) States of matter
b) Atoms
Principles c) Atomic structure
of d) Relative formula mass
Chemistry e) Chemical formulae and
chemical equations
f) Ionic compounds
g) Covalent substances
h) Metallic crystals
i) Electrolysis
16 An atom T has an electron configuration of 2.8.4
(a) Name the atom of element T.
.....................................................................................................................
...................... [1]

(b) Determine the group and period of element T.

.....................................................................................................................
...................... [1]

(c) If element T reacts with element L of atomic number 16, draw a dot-and-
cross diagram to show the transfer of electrons and how compounds are
formed.

                                                                                                                     
                       [2]
 1.18 write word equations and balanced
Lesson 3 chemical equations to represent the
reactions studied
in this specification
a)Relative 1.19 use the state symbols (s), (l), (g) and
formula mass (aq) in chemical equations to represent
b)Chemical solids,
formulae and liquids, gases and aqueous solutions
Chemical respectively
1.20 understand how the formulae of simple
equations compounds can be obtained experimentally,
including metal oxides, water and salts
containing water of crystallisation
1.21 calculate empirical and molecular
formulae from experimental data
1.22 calculate reacting masses using
experimental data and chemical equations
1.23 carry out mole calculations using
volumes and molar concentrations.
Finding chemical formulae –
experimentally!

We can conduct
experiments with
compounds to
determine the
mass (or
percentage) there
is of each element.
Finding chemical formulae –
experimentally!

For example, we
could heat
magnesium in air.
Magnesium oxide
will be formed
Finding chemical formulae –
experimentally!

For example, we
could heat
magnesium in air.
Magnesium oxide
will be formed

The mass will

increase because
oxygen is added
 Finding chemical formulae –
experimentally!

Mass of magnesium
Mass of Magnesium (g) Mass of oxygen (g)
oxide (g)

0.025 0.042

0.006 0.010

0.160 0.269
 Finding chemical formulae –
experimentally!

Mass of magnesium
Mass of Magnesium (g) Mass of oxygen (g)
oxide (g)

0.025 0.042 0.017

0.006 0.010 0.004

0.160 0.269 0.109

Finding chemical formulae –
experimentally!

Let’s just stop there

a second!

What do we mean by
the term ‘empirical
formula’?
Finding chemical formulae –
experimentally!

The empirical
formula is the
simplest whole
number ratio of
atoms in a compound.
Finding chemical formulae –
experimentally!

The empirical
formula is the
simplest whole
number ratio of
atoms in a compound.

Let’s calculate the

empirical formula for
magnesium oxide.
 Finding chemical formulae –
experimentally!

Mass of magnesium
Mass of Magnesium (g) Mass of oxygen (g)
oxide (g)

0.025 0.042 0.017

0.006 0.010 0.004

0.160 0.269 0.109

Empirical formula
 Empirical formula
Elements Magnesium Oxygen

Mass (g) 0.160 0.109

Relative atomic mass 24 16

Number of moles
 Empirical formula
Elements Magnesium Oxygen

Mass (g) 0.160 0.109

Relative atomic mass 24 16

Number of moles
 Empirical formula
Elements Magnesium Oxygen

Mass (g) 0.160 0.109

Relative atomic mass 24 16

Number of moles 0.0067 0.0068

 Empirical formula
Elements Magnesium Oxygen

Mass (g) 0.160 0.109

Relative atomic mass 24 16

Number of moles 0.0067 0.0068

0.0067 0.0068
Most simple ratio
0.0067 0.0067
 Empirical formula
Elements Magnesium Oxygen

Mass (g) 0.160 0.109

Relative atomic mass 24 16

Number of moles 0.0067 0.0068

0.0067 0.0068
Most simple ratio
0.0067 0.0067

Reacting atoms 1 1
 Empirical formula
Elements Magnesium Oxygen

Mass (g) 0.160 0.109

Relative atomic mass 24 16

Number of moles 0.0067 0.0068

0.0067 0.0068
Most simple ratio
0.0067 0.0067

Empirical formula MgO

 Empirical formula
Elements Iron oxygen

Mass (g)

Relative atomic mass

Number of moles

Most simple ratio

Reacting atoms
 Empirical formula
Elements Iron oxygen

Mass (g) 2.24 0.96

Relative atomic mass

Number of moles

Most simple ratio

Reacting atoms
 Empirical formula
Elements Iron oxygen

Mass (g) 2.24 0.96

Relative atomic mass 56 16

Number of moles

Most simple ratio

Reacting atoms
 Empirical formula
Elements Iron oxygen

Mass (g) 2.24 0.96

Relative atomic mass 56 16

Number of moles 0.04 0.06

Most simple ratio 0.04/0.04 0.06/0.04

Reacting atoms
 Empirical formula
Elements Iron oxygen

Mass (g) 2.24 0.96

Relative atomic mass 56 16

Number of moles 0.04 0.06

Most simple ratio 0.04/0.04 0.06/0.04

Reacting atoms 1 1.5

 Empirical formula
Elements Iron oxygen

Mass (g) 2.24 0.96

Relative atomic mass 56 16

Number of moles 0.04 0.06

Most simple ratio 0.04/0.04 0.06/0.04

Reacting atoms 2 3
 Empirical formula
Elements Iron oxygen

Mass (g) 2.24 0.96

Relative atomic mass 56 16

Number of moles 0.04 0.06

Most simple ratio 0.04/0.04 0.06/0.04

Empirical formula Fe2O3

 Empirical formula
Elements Magnesium Oxygen

Mass (%)

Relative atomic mass

Number of moles

Most simple ratio

Reacting atoms
 Empirical formula
Elements Magnesium Oxygen

Mass (%) 60 40

Relative atomic mass

Number of moles

Most simple ratio

Reacting atoms
 Empirical formula
Elements Magnesium Oxygen

Mass (%) 60 40

Relative atomic mass 24 16

Number of moles

Most simple ratio

Reacting atoms
 Empirical formula
Elements Magnesium Oxygen

Mass (%) 60 40

Relative atomic mass 24 16

Number of moles 2.5 2.5

Most simple ratio

Reacting atoms
 Empirical formula
Elements Magnesium Oxygen

Mass (%) 60 40

Relative atomic mass 24 16

Number of moles 2.5 2.5

Most simple ratio 2.5/2.5 2.5/2.5

Reacting atoms
 Empirical formula
Elements Magnesium Oxygen

Mass (%) 60 40

Relative atomic mass 24 16

Number of moles 2.5 2.5

Most simple ratio 2.5/2.5 2.5/2.5

Reacting atoms 1 1
 Empirical formula
Elements Magnesium Oxygen

Mass (%) 60 40

Relative atomic mass 24 16

Number of moles 2.5 2.5

Most simple ratio 2.5/2.5 2.5/2.5

Empirical formula MgO

 Empirical formula
Elements Calcium Carbon Oxygen

Mass (g)

Relative atomic
mass

Number of
moles

Most simple
ratio

Reacting atoms
 Empirical formula
Elements Calcium Carbon Oxygen

Mass (g) 10 3 12

Relative atomic
mass

Number of
moles

Most simple
ratio

Reacting atoms
 Empirical formula
Elements Calcium Carbon Oxygen

Mass (g) 10 3 12

Relative atomic
40 12 16
mass

Number of
moles

Most simple
ratio

Reacting atoms
 Empirical formula
Elements Calcium Carbon Oxygen

Mass (g) 10 3 12

Relative atomic
40 12 16
mass

Number of
0.25 0.25 0.75
moles

Most simple
ratio

Reacting atoms
 Empirical formula
Elements Calcium Carbon Oxygen

Mass (g) 10 3 12

Relative atomic
40 12 16
mass

Number of
0.25 0.25 0.75
moles

Most simple
0.25/0.25 0.25/0.25 0.75/0.25
ratio

Reacting atoms
 Empirical formula
Elements Calcium Carbon Oxygen

Mass (g) 10 3 12

Relative atomic
40 12 16
mass

Number of
0.25 0.25 0.75
moles

Most simple
0.25/0.25 0.25/0.25 0.75/0.25
ratio

Reacting atoms 1 1 3
 Empirical formula
Elements Calcium Carbon Oxygen

Mass (g) 10 3 12

Relative atomic
40 12 16
mass

Number of
0.25 0.25 0.75
moles

Most simple
0.25/0.25 0.25/0.25 0.75/0.25
ratio

Empirical
CaCO3
formula
 1.18 write word equations and balanced
Lesson 3 chemical equations to represent the
reactions studied
in this specification
a)Relative 1.19 use the state symbols (s), (l), (g) and
formula mass (aq) in chemical equations to represent
b)Chemical solids,
formulae and liquids, gases and aqueous solutions
Chemical respectively
1.20 understand how the formulae of simple
equations compounds can be obtained experimentally,
including metal oxides, water and salts
containing water of crystallisation
1.21 calculate empirical and molecular
formulae from experimental data
1.22 calculate reacting masses using
experimental data and chemical equations
1.23 carry out mole calculations using
volumes and molar concentrations.
 What is ‘water’ of
? crystallisation?
 What is ‘water’ of
? crystallisation?
 What is ‘water’ of
? crystallisation?
= water found in the crystal
structure of a compound
(eg. copper sulphate) but not
directly bonded to the
compound,

eg hydrated calcium
chloride crystals

CaCl2.2H2O
 What is ‘water’ of
? crystallisation?
When a hydrated salt is
heated, the water is
evaporated off, and we can
use the change in mass to
calculate how many molecules
of water there would be in
the empirical formula.
 What is ‘water’ of
? crystallisation?
When a hydrated salt is
heated, the water is
evaporated off, and we can
use the change in mass to
calculate how many molecules
of water there would be in
the empirical formula.

eg. MgSO4.nH2O

What will the value of ‘n’ be?

 Finding chemical formulae of
hydrated salts– experimentally!
Mass of hydrated Mass of anhydrous
magnesium sulphate magnesium sulphate Mass of water (g)
(g) (g)

9.44 4.58 4.86

 Finding chemical formulae of
hydrated salts– experimentally!
Mass of hydrated Mass of anhydrous
magnesium sulphate magnesium sulphate Mass of water (g)
(g) (g)

9.44 4.58 4.86

 Empirical formula
Compounds MgSO4 H2O

Mass (g) 4.58 4.86

Relative molecular
mass

Number of moles

Most simple ratio

Reacting molecules
 Empirical formula
Compounds MgSO4 H2O

Mass (g) 4.58 4.86

Relative molecular
120 18
mass

Number of moles

Most simple ratio

Reacting molecules
 Empirical formula
Compounds MgSO4 H2O

Mass (g) 4.58 4.86

Relative molecular
120 18
mass

Number of moles 0.039 0.27

Most simple ratio

Reacting molecules
 Empirical formula
Compounds MgSO4 H2O

Mass (g) 4.58 4.86

Relative molecular
120 18
mass

Number of moles 0.039 0.27

Most simple ratio 0.039/0.039 0.27/0.039

Reacting molecules
 Empirical formula
Compounds MgSO4 H2O

Mass (g) 4.58 4.86

Relative molecular
120 18
mass

Number of moles 0.039 0.27

Most simple ratio 0.039/0.039 0.27/0.039

Reacting molecules 1 6.93 (7)

 Empirical formula
Compounds MgSO4 H2O

Mass (g) 4.58 4.86

Relative molecular
120 18
mass

Number of moles 0.039 0.27

Most simple ratio 0.039/0.039 0.27/0.039

Empirical formula MgSO4.7H2O

Phew!

Take a
break!
Molecular formula
Molecular formula

Molecular formula shows the

actual number of atoms in a
compound and is a simple
multiple of the empirical
formula.
Molecular formula

Eg. Empirical formula = CH2

Molecular formula = C3H6

(empirical formula x 3)
 Molecular formula
Eg. Find the molecular formula of a
compound which has the empirical formula
CH2 and a relative molecular mass of 56g.
Mass of empirical formula CH2 = 12 + 2 = 14g
 Molecular formula
Eg. Find the molecular formula of a
compound which has the empirical formula
CH2 and a relative molecular mass of 56g.
Mass of empirical formula CH2 = 12 + 2 = 14g

Divide relative molecular mass by empirical mass

= 56 / 14 = 4
 Molecular formula
Eg. Find the molecular formula of a
compound which has the empirical formula
CH2 and a relative molecular mass of 56g.
Mass of empirical formula CH2 = 12 + 2 = 14g

Divide relative molecular mass by empirical mass

= 56 / 14 = 4

So the molecular formula = 4 x (CH2)

= C 4H 8
 1.18 write word equations and balanced
Lesson 3 chemical equations to represent the
reactions studied
in this specification
a)Relative 1.19 use the state symbols (s), (l), (g) and
formula mass (aq) in chemical equations to represent
b)Chemical solids,
formulae and liquids, gases and aqueous solutions
Chemical respectively
1.20 understand how the formulae of simple
equations compounds can be obtained experimentally,
including metal oxides, water and salts
containing water of crystallisation
1.21 calculate empirical and molecular
formulae from experimental data
1.22 calculate reacting masses using
experimental data and chemical equations
1.23 carry out mole calculations using
volumes and molar concentrations.
 1.18 write word equations and balanced
Lesson 3 chemical equations to represent the
reactions studied
in this specification
a)Relative 1.19 use the state symbols (s), (l), (g) and
formula mass (aq) in chemical equations to represent
b)Chemical solids,
formulae and liquids, gases and aqueous solutions
Chemical respectively
1.20 understand how the formulae of simple
equations compounds can be obtained experimentally,
including metal oxides, water and salts
containing water of crystallisation
1.21 calculate empirical and molecular
formulae from experimental data
1.22 calculate reacting masses using
experimental data and chemical equations
1.23 carry out mole calculations using
volumes and molar concentrations.
 End of Lesson 3 (part 1)

In this lesson we have covered:

Finding chemical formulae – experimentally!

Empirical formula

Water of crystallisation and hydrated salts

Molecular formula