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I know this is a physics site, but I hope someone can help me. How would I find the Empirical formula for Copper(II)Nitrate?

I don't even know how to find the empirical formula for Nitrate as it is molecular compound of 2 nonmetals and so it will never have a zero net charge. Basically I don't understand molecular compounds, and we haven't learned about electronegativity or anything. I'm scared, any help would pretty much save my life if someone could explain polyatomic molecules.

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I'll ask the mods at the chemistry beta site if they want this. I presume that they will want it edited to have a descriptive title. – dmckee♦ Sep 29 '12 at 21:47
This is a related question chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/718/… that should point you in the right direction. – jonsca Sep 29 '12 at 22:00
@dmckee: This is a basic question similar to "What is Newton?" It'd probably get closed in chemistry either..! – Ϛѓăʑɏ βµԂԃϔ Sep 30 '12 at 3:32
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@CrazyBuddy: Actually, we don't mind basic questions, as long as they are conceptual, well thought out, and well stated. But this particular one isn't really suitable. (See our policy on easy questions ) – Manishearth♦ Sep 30 '12 at 5:09
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@Cactus This question is sort of suitable for the chem site, but it's [a] a conceptual duplicate of this question (reading the answer there probably will solve this doubt of yours), and [b] easily answered by a Google search. – Manishearth♦ Sep 30 '12 at 5:13
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closed as off topic by Qmechanic♦, dmckee♦ Sep 29 '12 at 21:46

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1 Answer

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Cu(NO3)2

The copper cation is Cu2+ as it's copper(II). Since a nitrate anion is (NO3)-, you need 2 of them to balance the charge with the Cu2+.

But yes, this is a physics site :-)

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