Using Chemical Equations and Empirical Formulas
Balanced chemical equations are your roadmap for calculating how much product you can make from your starting materials. The secret is using the mole ratios from the equation - if the equation shows 2:1, then 2 moles of one substance will react with 1 mole of another.
For empirical formulas, convert percentages to masses, then divide by relative atomic masses to get moles. Finally, divide all mole values by the smallest number to get the simplest whole number ratio.
Remember: The empirical formula shows the simplest ratio, whilst the molecular formula shows the actual number of atoms in the molecule.
When calculating gas volumes from reactions, work out the moles of your starting material first, use the equation to find moles of gas produced, then apply PV = nRT to find the volume.