Let's determine the molecular formula for skunk spray! High schoolers watch a video to learn how to calculate an empirical formula from given masses. The video then demonstrates how to use mass spectrum results to determine a molecular formula.

Concepts

empirical formulas, molecular formulas

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Pause video to have viewers work out parts of the problem before watching solution

Classroom Considerations

• Viewers need to have a good grasp of mass ratios and mole ratios
• Example uses milligrams and millimoles; be sure learners know how to deal with these units

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Video explains the process of finding empirical and molecular formulas step by step

Cons

• Video quality is poor in some locations
• At one point, speaker says hydrogen when he should have said sulfur