• Want to take part in this year's BoS Trials event for Maths and/or Business Studies?
    Click here for details and register now!
  • YOU can help the next generation of students in the community!
    Share your trial papers and notes on our Notes & Resources page

why is NH4NO3 not an empirical formula? (2 Viewers)

sciencenerd

New Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2013
Messages
7
Gender
Female
HSC
2015
Doesn't it fit the definition despite being made of polyatomic ions........
 

strawberrye

Premium Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Messages
3,292
Location
Sydney
Gender
Female
HSC
2013
Uni Grad
2018
Where did you read about this compound not being an empirical formula?
 

someth1ng

Retired Nov '14
Joined
Sep 18, 2010
Messages
5,558
Location
Adelaide, Australia
Gender
Male
HSC
2012
Uni Grad
2021
Where did you read about this compound not being an empirical formula?
It isn't an empirical formula. In chemistry, the empirical formula of a chemical compound is the simplest positive integer ratio of atoms present in a compound - each element only appears once for the empirical formula.

The empirical formula for ammonium nitrate is N2H4O3.

The empirical formula of N2O4 would be NO2.
 
Last edited:

strawberrye

Premium Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Messages
3,292
Location
Sydney
Gender
Female
HSC
2013
Uni Grad
2018
It isn't an empirical formula. In chemistry, the empirical formula of a chemical compound is the simplest positive integer ratio of atoms present in a compound - each element only appears once for the empirical formula.

The empirical formula for ammonium nitrate is N2H4O3.

The empirical formula of N2O4 would be NO2.
Thank you for your explanation:)
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 2)

Top