Empirical
Formula Example 2
Mg (solid – silvery
white) + O2 (gas) → MgxOy (solid – white)
heat
(0.353g)
limiting reagent
Atmospheric oxygen is in excess
A student
burns 0.353 g of magnesium ribbon in an open crucible. A white powder forms and is found to
weigh 0.585 g. What is the
empirical formula?
How do we determine
the empirical formula?
1st Step: Calculate mass percents.