Question

A compound is found to contain 30. 45 % nitrogen and 69. 55 % oxygen by mass. What is the empirical formula for this compound?.

Answer 1

Answer: NO2

Step-by-step explanation:

Assume 100 grams of a substance so that %=mass in grams

1.) Convert both into moles of each substance

30.45 g N * (1 mol N/ 14.01 g N) = 2.173 mol of N

69.55 g O * (1 mol O/ 16.00 g O) =4.347 mol of O

2.) divide both by the smallest number of moles, in this case 2.173, to find subscripts of each element.

2.173/ 2.173= 1

4.347/ 2.173= 2

Therefore the empirical formula is NO2