Given nitrogen 1 oxide and oxygen how can one differenciate the two

Nitrogen has an atomic number of seven, while the atomic number of oxygen is eight. That means nitrogen has seven protons in the nucleus of each atom, as well as seven electrons surrounding the nucleus. Oxygen has eight protons and electrons. Atoms combine with one another to form molecules.

a 20-cm-long, cylindrical graphite (pure carbon) rod is inserted into an oxidizing atmosphere at 1145 k and 1.013 x 105 pa pressure. the oxidizing process is limited by the diffu- sion of oxygen counterflow to the carbon monoxide that is formed on the cylindrical surface.