Concept explainers
A Boron and hydrogen form an extensive family of compounds, and the diagram below shows how they are related by reaction.
The following table gives the weight percent of boron in each of the compounds. Derive the empirical and molecular formulas of compounds A-E.

Interpretation: To determine the empirical and molecular formula of given compounds A-E.
Concept introduction:
The empirical formula of a chemical compound is the simplest positive integer ratio of atoms present in a compound.
A molecular formula shows the total number of atoms in a molecule but not their structural arrangement.
Answer to Problem 107GQ
The empirical formula of compound A is BH3 and the molecular formula of compound A is B2H6.
The empirical formula of compound B is BH2.5 and the molecular formula of compound B is B4H10.
The empirical formula of compound C is BH2.2 and the molecular formula of compound C is B5H11.
The empirical formula of compound D is BH1.78 and the molecular formula of compound D is B5H9.
The empirical formula of compound E is BH1.4 and the molecular formula of compound E is B10H14.
Explanation of Solution
Boron and hydrogen form an extensive family of compounds. Substance A-E contains boron and hydrogen atoms.
The empirical and molecular formula of given compounds A-E is calculated below.
Given:
Substance A is a gaseous compound contains 78.3% by mass of boron and 21.7% by mass of hydrogen. The molecular weight of boron is 10.8 g⋅mol−1 and the molecular weight of hydrogen atom is 1.008 g⋅mol−1.
The empirical formula of substance A is calculated as,
Convert the mass of boron and hydrogen into moles using molar mass of boron and hydrogen respectively.
78.3 g10.8 g⋅mol−1=7.25 mol boron21.7 g1.008 g⋅mol−1=21.5 mol hydrogen
Divide each mole value by the smallest number of moles calculated. Round off to the nearest whole number.
7.25 mol boron7.25 mol=1.0021.5 mol hydrogen7.25 mol≈3.00
Thus, the empirical formula of compound A is BH3.
The empirical formula molar mass of compound A is 13.82 g⋅mol−1 and the molecular formula molar mass of compound A is 27.7 g⋅mol−1.
Divide the molecular formula mass by the empirical formula mass,
27.7 g⋅mol−113.8 g⋅mol−1=2.00
Multiply each of the subscripts within the empirical formula of substance A by the number calculated above.
Thus, the molecular formula of substance A is 2(BH3) that is B2H6.
Substance B is a gaseous compound contains 81.2% by mass of boron and 18.8% by mass of hydrogen. The molecular weight of boron is 10.8 g⋅mol−1 and the molecular weight of hydrogen atom is 1.008 g⋅mol−1.
The empirical formula of substance B is calculated as,
Convert the mass of boron and hydrogen into moles using molar mass of boron and hydrogen respectively.
81.2 g10.8 g⋅mol−1=7.52 mol boron18.8 g1.008 g⋅mol−1=18.65 mol hydrogen
Divide each mole value by the smallest number of moles calculated. Round off to the nearest whole number.
7.52 mol boron7.52 mol=1.0018.65 mol hydrogen7.52 mol=2.5
Thus, the empirical formula of compound B is BH2.5.
The empirical formula molar mass of compound B is 12.82 g⋅mol−1 and the molecular formula molar mass of compound B is 53.3 g⋅mol−1.
Divide the molecular formula mass by the empirical formula mass,
53.3 g⋅mol−112.8 g⋅mol−1≈4.00
Multiply each of the subscripts within the empirical formula of substance B by the number calculated above.
Thus, the molecular formula of substance B is 4(BH2.5) that is B4H10.
Substance C is a liquid compound contains 83.1% by mass of boron and 16.9% by mass of hydrogen. The molecular weight of boron is 10.8 g⋅mol−1 and the molecular weight of hydrogen atom is 1.008 g⋅mol−1.
The empirical formula of substance C is calculated as,
Convert the mass of boron and hydrogen into moles using molar mass of boron and hydrogen respectively.
83.1 g10.8 g⋅mol−1=7.69 mol boron16.9 g1.008 g⋅mol−1=16.76 mol hydrogen
Divide each mole value by the smallest number of moles calculated. Round off to the nearest whole number.
7.69 mol boron7.69 mol=1.0016.76 mol hydrogen7.69 mol≈2.2
Thus, the empirical formula of compound C is BH2.2.
The empirical formula molar mass of compound A is 13.02 g⋅mol−1 and the molecular formula molar mass of compound C is 65.1 g⋅mol−1.
Divide the molecular formula mass by the empirical formula mass,
65.1 g⋅mol−113.02 g⋅mol−1=5.00
Multiply each of the subscripts within the empirical formula of substance C by the number calculated above.
Thus, the molecular formula of substance C is 5(BH2.2) that is B5H11.
Substance D is a liquid compound contains 85.7% by mass of boron and 14.3% by mass of hydrogen. The molecular weight of boron is 10.8 g⋅mol−1 and the molecular weight of hydrogen atom is 1.008 g⋅mol−1.
The empirical formula of substance D is calculated as,
Convert the mass of boron and hydrogen into moles using molar mass of boron and hydrogen respectively.
85.7 g10.8 g⋅mol−1=7.93 mol boron14.3 g1.008 g⋅mol−1=14.18 mol hydrogen
Divide each mole value by the smallest number of moles calculated. Round off to the nearest whole number.
7.93 mol boron7.93 mol=1.0014.18 mol hydrogen7.93 mol=1.78
Thus, the empirical formula of compound D is BH1.78.
The empirical formula molar mass of compound A is 12.59 g⋅mol−1 and the molecular formula molar mass of compound D is 63.1 g⋅mol−1.
Divide the molecular formula mass by the empirical formula mass,
63.1 g⋅mol−112.59 g⋅mol−1=5.00
Multiply each of the subscripts within the empirical formula of substance D by the number calculated above.
Thus, the molecular formula of substance D is 5(BH1.78) that is B5H9.
Substance E is a solid compound contains 88.5% by mass of boron and 11.5% by mass of hydrogen. The molecular weight of boron is 10.8 g⋅mol−1 and the molecular weight of hydrogen atom is 1.008 g⋅mol−1.
The empirical formula of substance E is calculated as,
Convert the mass of boron and hydrogen into moles using molar mass of boron and hydrogen respectively.
88.5 g10.8 g⋅mol−1=8.19 mol boron11.5 g1.008 g⋅mol−1=11.41 mol hydrogen
Divide each mole value by the smallest number of moles calculated. Round off to the nearest whole number.
8.19 mol boron8.19 mol=1.0011.41 mol hydrogen8.19 mol=1.4
Thus, the empirical formula of compound E is BH1.4.
The empirical formula molar mass of compound E is 12.11 g⋅mol−1 and the molecular formula molar mass of compound E is 122.2 g⋅mol−1.
Divide the molecular formula mass by the empirical formula mass,
122.2 g⋅mol−112.11 g⋅mol−1=10
Multiply each of the subscripts within the empirical formula of substance E by the number calculated above.
Thus, the molecular formula of substance E is 10(BH1.4) that is B10H14.
The empirical formula of compound A is BH3 and the molecular formula of compound A is B2H6.
The empirical formula of compound B is BH2.5 and the molecular formula of compound B is B4H10.
The empirical formula of compound C is BH2.2 and the molecular formula of compound C is B5H11.
The empirical formula of compound D is BH1.78 and the molecular formula of compound D is B5H9.
The empirical formula of compound E is BH1.4 and the molecular formula of compound E is B10H14.
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Chapter 21 Solutions
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