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$5.00~\mathrm{g}$ of nitrogen is completely converted into an oxide of nitrogen. The mass of the oxide formed is $19.3~\mathrm{g}$.
The empirical formula of the oxide would be?
My working:
$$\ce{N2 + O_2 -> N$_x$O$_y$}$$
How do I approach this?
$\ce{x/2 N2 +y/2 O2 \rightarrow N$_x$O$_y$}$
We have two unknowns $x$ and $y$. So, to determine them we need two independent equations:
1 - The conservation of nitrogen mass: $5=14x$. So, $x= 0.35714$.
2- According to the stoichiometry of the above balanced chemical equation: The number of moles of $\ce{ N$_x$O$_y$}$ equals $n= \frac{5}{28}\times\frac{2}{x}$.
On the other hand, the number of moles of $\ce{ N$_x$O$_y$}$ equals $n= \frac{19.3}{14x+16y}=\frac{10}{28x} $. By substituting $x= 0.35714 $ into the last equation, we find $y=0.89375$. We find $\ce{ N_{0.35714}O_{0.89375}}$. We divide by $ 0.35714$, We obtain $\ce{ NO_{2.5}}$.i.e. the formula of nitrogen oxide is $\ce{ N_2O_5}$.
If the question specifies that only one NxOy is formed (so not also NpOq in some ratio) , you need to calculate how many atoms of Oxygen you will have added. Then, you can deduce the number of Oxygen atoms per Nitrogen atom and find x and y. If you find decimal values, adjust the stoichiometry accordingly.
$$\ce{N2 +O2 -> N_{$x$}O_{$y$}}$$ Now using POAC (Principle of Atomic conservation), $$\frac5{28}\cdot2=\frac{19.3}{14x+16y}\cdot x\implies \frac{y}{x}\approx2.5025\sim2.5\implies y'=5,x'=2\implies \ce{N2O5}$$
Subtract the mass of $\ce{N2}$ from the mass of NXOY to get 14.3g. This means there is 14.3g is from the $\ce{O2}$ so you can find the moles of $\ce{O2}$ and use the coefficients to solve for the ratio between $\ce{N2}$ and $\ce{O2}$ which will give you X and Y.
