How Do You Determine the Ratio of Oxygen to Nitrogen Atoms from Percentages?

[DougD720]

Homework Statement

Given a table of percentages. One column stands for the percent of Nitrogen in a substance, the other a percent of Oxygen. Given the table (4 rows with different values), figure out the ratio of atoms of Oxygen for a given amount of Nitrogen.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I have no idea how to even go about doing it. I tried plugging in the weights of the elements, i tried ignoring them. I tried this problem a few different ways but honestly, i haven no idea how to even approach it, i can't seem to figure it out.

It's from the first chapter of our chemistry book, I've tried reading the book, but they don't mention nor show a sample of how to do a problem like this. Nor did the professor do a sample problem in class. I have no idea how to approach this problem, i know it's a simple solution but i haven't taken chemistry in about 3 years, so I'm completely lost here.

Thanks!

 

[Borek]

Water contains 11.19% of hydrogen and 88.81% of oxygen. Let's assume we have 100 g of water - we have 11.19 g of hydrogen and 88.81 g of oxygen then. That means we have 11.19/1.01=11.08 moles of hydrogen and 88.81/16.00=5.55 moles of oxygen. There is exactly 11.08/5.55=2.00 moles of hydrogen per mole of oxygen, so water must have formula H₂O.

Can you do the same to your nitrogen question?

In general you don't have to assume 100 g of substance, but it quite often simplifies thinking.