Question

a compound is decomposed In the laboratory and produces 1.40 g N and 0.20g H what is the empirical formula

Answer 1

First, find the number of moles for each element. The molar mass for nitrogen is 14 g/mol and that of hydrogen is 1 g/mol.

1.40 g N / 14 g/mol = 0.1 mol N

0.20 g H / 1 g/mol = 0.2 mol H

Find the mole ratio. Divide both numbers with the much lower value. In this case, it is 0.1 mol N.

For N: 0.1 ÷ 0.1 = 1

For H: 0.2÷0.1 = 2

Thus, the empirical formula is $NH_{2}$.