Answer to Question #2692 in Inorganic Chemistry for Charlow

Question

A compound of nitrogen and oxygen is analyzed and a sample weighing 1.587g is found to contain 0.483g N and 1.104g O. What is the emperical formula of the compound?

Answer 1

The molar mass of nitrogen is 14 g/mol, oxygen is 16 g/mol.
ν (N) = 0.483g/14 g/mol = 0.0345 mol
ν (O) = 1.104g/ 16 g/mol = 0.069 mol.
N : O = 0.0345 : 0.069 = 1 : 2.
The empirical formula of the compound is NO₂.