Question

A compound is found to contain 30.4% nitrogen and 69.6% oxygen. If it has a molecular mass of 92.0, what is its molecular formula?

Answer 1

Molecular formula = N2O4

Step-by-step explanation:

Step 1: Assume that the mass of a compound is 100%

Step 2: Calculate the number of moles of each element

Step 3: Represent an empirical formula

Step 4: Divide the number of moles of each element by the least number of moles

Step 5: Write the empirical formula

Step 6: Calculate the empirical mass

Step 7: Represent a molecular formula

Step 8: Solve for n by dividing molecular mass by empirical mass

Step 9: Multiply the subscripts of the empirical formula by the value of n to obtain the molecular formula