[ACMAir]

How do you find the simplest formula of a compound when you are given the following information:

You burn 10.0g of a compound consisting of C, H, N, and O. 14.7% of it is Nitrogen. When it is burned in oxygen it forms 19.8 grams of CO2 and 14.6 grams of H2O.

These numbers are what I recall from memory so they aren't going to give the right answer, but what process do I go through to find out?

I'm guessing I convert 14.7% to 1.47 grams out of 10.0g. Then I find out the molar mass of CO2 and H2O and calculate how many moles of it are produced.

Then what?

Thanks

[nielsgeode]

Think logical 

14.7% is N2 (but this only consists of N)
19.8 g is CO2. Molar mass of CO2? ==> Wat percentage of CO2 is carbon? How many grams of carbon do you have? What is the percentage of carbon of your 10.0g of compound?

Then you now N, C and for H you do the same with H2O

You then know the ratio of C / N and O

If you divide all the percentages by the molar mass of each element you get your molecular formula:

for example C6,45N2,23H1,76

You only need to simplify that...

[macman104]

This is a combustion analysis problem.  There are many examples of solving them online:

http://dbhs.wvusd.k12.ca.us/webdocs/Mole/CombustionAnalysis.html

[labec]

You burn 10.0g of a compound consisting of C, H, N, and O. 14.7% of it is Nitrogen. When it is burned in oxygen it forms 19.8 grams of CO2 and 14.6 grams of H2O.

This is how my Chem teacher 3 years ago showed me...
His instructions (easy steps) to find the Empirical (simplest) Formula was simple:

1.) You need to know the amount of each element present:
First follow Nielsgeode's instructions for nitrogen..
To find C, H, and O you need to:
C=12.011/44.009 = 0.2729x 19.8= 5.404 grams
H=2.0158/18.0148 = 0.1119x 14.6= 1.634 grams
O= Subtract C, H, & N from your original 10 grams

2.)  Convert these amounts to moles:
To get from grams to moles you need to divide each number above by the amu of the element..

3.)  Divide each by the least amount of moles you found:
(self explanatory)

4.)  Make #2 into your subscripts:
Round your answers to the nearest whole number then do this

Does that make sense to you?