Answer:
16:1
Explanation:
Atoms of element X weigh 32 times more than atoms of element Y. We can write this in a symbolic way.
mX = 32 mY [1]
where,
- mX and mY are the masses of X and Y, respectively
A compound has the formula: XY₂, that is, in 1 molecule of XY₂ there is 1 atom of X and 2 atoms of Y. The ratio of the mass of X to the mass of Y in this compound equals:
mX/2 mY [2]
If we substitute [1] in [2], we get:
mX/2 mY = 32 mY/2 mY = 16 = 16:1
