A laboratory analysis of a sample finds it is composed of 38.8% carbon, 16.2% hydrogen, and 45.1% nitrogen. What is its empirical formula? Give your answer in the form C#H#N#, where the number following the element’s symbol corresponds to the subscript in the formula.

The empirical formula for the given compound is

Explanation : Given,

Percentage of C = 38.8 %

Percentage of H = 16.2 %

Percentage of N = 45.1 %

Let the mass of compound be 100 g. So, percentages given are taken as mass.

Mass of C = 38.8 g

Mass of H = 16.2 g

Mass of N = 45.4 g

To formulate the empirical formula, we need to follow some steps:

Step 1: Converting the given masses into moles.

Moles of Carbon =

Moles of Hydrogen =

Moles of Nitrogen =

Step 2: Calculating the mole ratio of the given elements.

For the mole ratio, we divide each value of the moles by the smallest number of moles calculated which is 3.23 moles.

For Carbon =

For Hydrogen  =

For Oxygen  =

Step 3: Taking the mole ratio as their subscripts.

The ratio of C : H : N = 1 : 5 : 1

Hence, the empirical formula for the given compound is

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