To have empathy is related to a 2nd chakra opening, ...
Empathy is actually a conjunctive gift between the Higher and Lower Heart Chakra's.... which the pair is also commonly referred to as the 4th Chakra (going from bottom to top).
Receptive Empathy (feeling another's emotions) is received by the Lower Heart...
Projective Empathy (sending your feelings to another) is sent by the Higher Heart...
Processing the pain of others, or from outside influences (like death of a loved one) happens in the Lower Heart... though, if the Higher Heart is imbalanced/disconnected, then the Lower Heart isn't able to effectively do it's job. Also, if the Ego Center is disconnected/imbalanced, you can have up/down emotional patterns, if the Sacral is disconnected/imbalanced, you can have a tougher time connect with others on a more intimate (does not have to be sexual to be intimate) level... if the throat is disconnected/imbalanced... you have a hard time voicing your emotions... if your 3rd eye is disconnected/imbalanced... you have a hard time understanding the emotions... if it's an issue with your crown... generally you feel alone and disconnected emotionally from all around you. Oh, and if the root is disconnected or imbalanced... letting go of an emotion (after you have processed through it) is greatly hindered.
Please understand, that humans are made up of more than one chakra for a reason... if you are all heart (and even if it's perfectly in-balance), and your other chakras are out of wack... you will have issues that seem to stem from the heart chakras... even though they aren't entirely.
Have a good one...