From experimental data, we find the mass % composition of a chemical compound. Mass % composition of a chemical compound: compound. Ex: mass % composition of sodium chloride, nacl. 39. 34% na and 60. 66% From mass % composition of a chemical compound, we find the empirical formula of the compound. Assume 100g of the compound because they gave you a percentage. For hydrogen, divide 11. 19g by 1. 008g (molar mass of hydrogen) to get moles. For oxygen, divide 88. 79g by 16. 00 (molar mass of oxygen) to get moles. Now we have 11. 10 moles of hydrogen and 5. 549 moles of oxygen. Divide both of these numbers by the smallest number of moles, which is. Now we have 2 moles of hydrogen and 1 mole of oxygen. From the empirical formula of a chemical compound, we find the molecular formula of the compound. We need to know the molecular mass. Ex: empirical formula is ch . molecular formula could be n(ch )