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Home Q & A Board Science-Related Homework Help Chemistry (Moderator: Laser_3)
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oblivionks oblivionks
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11 years ago
The following diagram represents the collection of elements formed by decomposition reaction. (a.) If the blue spheres represent N atoms and the red ones represent O atoms, what was the empirical formula of the original compound? (b.) Could you draw a diagram representing the molecules of the compound that has been decomposed? Why or why not?

The diagram shows 12 red spheres in sets of two and 6 blue spheres also in sets of 2.

I don't know how to do any of this please help me!!!
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#1
11 years ago
As the products of the decomposition - so, no additional fuel needed - are nitrogen and oxygen in a 2:1 ratio, the empirical formula will obviously contain the same ration of the same elements - that is, N2O would be the empirical formula. From this decomposition data lone, you're not really able to draw a molecular formula, as the real molecule could contain integer multiples of the atoms given by the empirical formula (N2O, N4O2 etc...)
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#2
11 years ago
Very simple.  six nitrogens and twelve oxygens give you N6O12.  The empirical formula is the lowest whole number ratio of these two elements, which is 1:2 or NO2 (nitrogen dioxide).  You don't have enough information to determine what molecules were used to produce this gas, but it is usually prepared by dissolution of a metal such as copper or silver in nitric acid and is evolved a orange-brown colored gas: Cu + 4 HNO3 ----------->  Cu(NO3)2 + 2 NO2  + 2 H2O.
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