A sample of a compound is analyzed and found to contain 0.420 g nitrogen, 0.480g oxygen, 0.540 g carbon and 0.135 g hydrogen. What is the empirical formula of the compound

C2H5NO

Explanation:

constituent elements                    N              O               C                H

Mass composition                     0.420        0.480         0.540         0.135

mole ratio                                   0.42/14       0.48/16      0.54/12         0.135/1

                                              = 0.03                0.03             0.045         0.135

dividing by the smallest           0.03/0.03     0.03/0.03    0.045/0.03 0.135/0.03

ratio                                      =        1                      1                1.5                 4.5

                                             =        1                      1                  2                   5

EMPERICAL FORMULA = C2H5NO

vanderwaal's forces of attraction are the electrostatic intermolecular forces that exist in a molecule due to the temporary or permanent dipoles that are developed in a molecule. in , the major intermolecular forces are dipole-dipole interactions as the molecule is polar (bent structure). so the vanderwaal's forces of interaction in between molecules are the permanent dipole-dipole interactions that develop due to the dipole that exists in between the polar h - s bond. the positively charged hydrogen atom is attracted towards the negative end of the dipole that is sulfur of the adjacent molecule. therefore, these forces of attraction are relatively stronger than that of london dispersion forces that exist in non polar molecules.

i would say b

explanation:

but i think i would need more information than that