Chapter 2, Problem 94CP

You have two distinct gaseous compounds made from elementX and element Y. The mass percents are as follows:

Compound I: 30.43% X, 69.57% Y
Compound II: 63.64% X, 36.36% Y

In their natural standard states, element X and element Yexist as gases. (Monatomic? Diatomic? Triatomic? That isfor you to determine.) When you react “gas X” with “gasY” to make the products, you get the following data (allat standard pressure and temperature):

$\begin{array}{l}\text{1 volume "gas}\text{X"}\text{+}\text{2}\text{Volumes}\text{"gas}\text{Y"}\to \text{2 volumes compound I}\\ \text{2 volume "gas}\text{X"}\text{+}\text{1}\text{Volumes}\text{"gas}\text{Y"}\to \text{2 volumes compound II}\end{array}$

Assume the simplest possible formulas for reactants andproducts in these chemical equations. Then determine therelative atomic masses of element X and element Y.