Which procedure is used to determine the empirical formula of a compound?

To determine the empirical formula of a compound, the crucial step is to determine the ratio of moles of each element present in the compound. The empirical formula reflects the simplest whole-number ratio of the elements, and this requires knowing how many moles of each element are present.

To find the moles of each element, you would typically convert the measured masses of the elements (obtained through methods such as combustion analysis or weighing) into moles using the molar mass of each element. Once the number of moles of each element is determined, you can simplify these ratios to find the smallest whole numbers that represent the empirical formula.

While measuring the mass of each element is an initial step in the process, it does not provide the empirical formula directly without converting to moles. Calculating the molecular weight relates to the molecular formula rather than the empirical formula. Analyzing elemental composition using spectroscopy can provide valuable information about the elements present, but it does not directly lead to determining the empirical formula without further calculations to find molar ratios.