Final answer:
The empirical formula of the compound is NO2.
Step-by-step explanation:
The empirical formula of a compound can be determined using the given masses of its constituent elements. In this case, we have 0.130 g of nitrogen (N) and 0.370 g of oxygen (O).
To find the empirical formula, we first determine the moles of each element by dividing the mass of each element by its molar mass (N=14 and O=16):
N: 0.130 g / 14 g/mol = 0.00929 mol
O: 0.370 g / 16 g/mol = 0.02313 mol
Next, we divide the moles of each element by the smallest result to obtain a whole number ratio:
N: 0.00929 mol / 0.00929 mol = 1
O: 0.02313 mol / 0.00929 mol = 2.49 (rounded to 2)
Therefore, the empirical formula of the compound is NO2.