A sample of an oxide of nitrogen was found to contain of nitrogen. The empirical formula of the oxide is

Question

A  sample of an oxide of nitrogen was found to contain  of nitrogen. The empirical formula of the oxide is

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Strategy:
 The empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a compound. Calculate the moles of Nitrogen and Oxygen, then divide both by the smallest mole value to find the ratio.

Step 1: Find mass of Oxygen
Mass of sample . Mass of Nitrogen .
Mass of Oxygen .

Step 2: Convert masses to moles
- Moles of 
- Moles of

Step 3: Find the simplest whole number ratio
Divide by :
, .
Multiplying by integers to find a whole number ratio gives  (, roughly , or checking options

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