Calculating Empirical and Molecular Formulas @DeBaccoUniversity

Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

Calculating Empirical and Molecular Formulas

Dr. DeBacco

Empirical Formula
Shows the smallest whole number ratio of atoms in a compound.
Ex. Empirical formula = CH2O
Molecular formula = C6H12O6

To determine empirical formula from % composition:
Assume you have 100.0 g of the sample
Calculate the % composition of the sample
Convert mass to moles of each element in the compound
Divide moles of each element by the smallest number to find ratio

Calculating: Empirical Formula

Calculating: Molecular Formula

Molecular Formula Calculations

Example

Link to Lecture Slides: drive.google.com/file/d/1uvsYMdIInHwjY8boPvpaO1DHTh9_ZxAE/view?usp=drive_link

*Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Calculating Empirical and Molecular Formulas" can be viewed at... docs.google.com/document/d/1ZAUDlsamQ8kUbaa6GwnZSkAz_UFnWW6A/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true

Importance of Decarboxylation for Cannabis

The Botanist Dispensary Facility Interview with Pharmacist Uzma Zakir

$Impact of Organic and Mineral Based Fertilizers on Cannabis Yield Impact of Organic and Mineral Based Fertilizers on Cannabis Yield Professor DeBacco Research Article Massuela, D. C., Munz, S., Hartung, J., Nkebiwe, P. M., & Graeff-Hönninger, S. (2023). Cannabis Hunger Games: nutrient stress induction in flowering stage–impact of organic and mineral fertilizer levels on biomass, cannabidiol (CBD) yield and nutrient use efficiency. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14, 1233232. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1233232/full Two Liquid Fertilize Types Organic Mineral solution Both were prepared in order to contain the same concentration of macronutrients based on manufacture provided information. Macronutrients: N, P, K, Ca, Mg were the main study focus. *No signs or symptoms of micronutrient deficiencies or toxicities were observed between organic and mineral treatments. Fertilizer Concentrations and Sequence Concentrations studies were… 80 mg L−1 160 mg L−1 240 mg L−1 Fertilizer treatments were applied in liquid solution twice per week starting on 22 DAP. See Supplementary Table 2 for details Plants did not receive any further fertilizer during the last week of cultivation Plant Sampling Two harvests during the vegetative stage: 22 and 36 DAP Four harvests during the flowering stage: 54, 69, 83, and 99 DAP At each harvest, four plants per treatment (one plant per treatment and replicate) were cut at the base and separated into three fractions… Stems Leaves Inflorescences N-P-K Content of Leaves Compared to Flowers Least square means (±standard error) for the content of (A, B) nitrogen, (C, D) phosphorus, and (E, F) potassium in leaves (left) and inflorescences (right) for the fertilizer concentrations (80, 160 and 240 mg N L−1) at different harvest dates (days after planting, DAP). For each harvest date within each single figure, means with different letters were significantly different from each other according to Fisher’s LSD test with a=0.05. Phosphorus Fertilization… In this study, no significant differences between fertilizer concentrations were found for P concentration in inflorescences at the final harvest. P concentration in leaves, stem and substrate were significantly higher for treatment 240 indicating overfertilization with P (240 in comparison to 160) at the flowering stage Maintaining high nutrient levels in leaves and substrate is not relevant at the harvest point. Mineral Fertilizers Generally, mineral fertilizers show higher nutrient uptake and agronomic use efficiencies compared to organic treatments Organic Fertilizers The significantly lower plant and inflorescence dry matter, leaf area and finally CBD yield of organic treatments are supported by the general lower nitrogen uptake efficiency (especially in the last two weeks which is the major sink stage) compared to mineral treatments. If Using Organic Fertilizers Consider... Organic fertilizer should be applied earlier at a higher rate to be available during the final two weeks of flowering when the sink demand for inflorescences is very high. Best of Both The higher availability of mineral fertilizer can be important for plant initial growth, while organic fertilizers can be employed as a more sustainable nutrient complementation during flowering without major yield losses. Fertilizer Concentration: Take Home Message The fertilizer concentration 160 produced 95% of the CBD yield of 240, while receiving one-third less nutrients. Organic Fertilizer Usage: Take Home Message If using organic fertilizers you may have to add more than someone else using mineral based fertilizers because of the lower nutrient uptake efficiency. Nutrient acquisition was lower for the organic fertilizer during the final two weeks before harvest, resulting in reduced biomass and CBD yield compared to mineral fertilizer treatments. Phosphorus Fertilization: Take Home Message The fertilizer rate of P can be in general reduced during end of flowering to avoid unproductive nutrient accumulation in vegetative plant organs. Link to Lecture Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sVH1JsMbtAGr1zq6egKyGUYxzooJWcL8/view?usp=drive_link *Due to the description character limit the full work cited for Impact of Organic and Mineral Based Fertilizers on Cannabis Yield can be viewed at... https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xA-5AiNzeR8QHwvruKjZOT5nPD1FohgU/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true$

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Calculating Empirical and Molecular Formulas