why is NH4NO3 not an empirical formula? (1 Viewer)

sciencenerd

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Doesn't it fit the definition despite being made of polyatomic ions........
 

strawberrye

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Where did you read about this compound not being an empirical formula?
 

someth1ng

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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.
 
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strawberrye

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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:)
 

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