Acompound contains potassium, nitrogen, and oxygen. the experimental analysis gave values of 45.942 % potassium and 16.458 % nitrogen, by weight, the remainder is oxygen. what is the empirical formula of the compound?

KNO₂

Explanation:

To get the empirical formula of a compound, we follow a series of steps.

Step 1: Given data

%K = 45.942%

%N = 16.458%

%O = 100.000% - 45.942% - 16.458% = 37.600%

Step 2: Divide each percentage by the atomic mass of the element

K: 45.942 / 39.098 = 1.1750

N: 16.458 / 14.007 = 1.1750

O: 37.600 / 15.999 = 2.3501

Step 3: We divide all the coefficients by the smallest number

K: 1.1750 / 1.1750 = 1

N: 1.1750 / 1.1750 = 1

O: 2.3501 / 1.1750 = 2

The empirical formula is KNO₂.