Answer:
N₂O
Explanation:
Empirical formula is defined as the simplest whole number ratio of atoms presents in a molecule
For a nitrogen oxide that contains 63.66% of nitrogen, the percent of oxygen must be:
100-63.66 = 36.34% Oxygen
This percent is the percent in mass. To solve this question we must convert the mass of each atom to moles in order to find the simplest whole number ratio:
Moles of the atoms:
N = 63.66g * (1mol / 14g) = 4.547 moles N
O = 36.34g * (1mol / 16g) = 2.271 moles O
The ratio N:O is:
4.547 moles N / 2.271 moles O = 2
That means there are 2 atoms of N per atom of O and the empirical formula is:
