Question

If a compound containing only magnesium and oxygen consists of 0.564 g mg and 0.376 g o, what is the compound's empirical formula..

Answer 1

the Empirical formula of the compound is calculated as follows

find the moles of each element
moles = mass/molar mass

that is Magnesium= 0.564 g /24 g/mol = 0.0235 moles

For oxygen = 0.376 g /16 g/mol= 0.0235 moles
find the mole ratio by dividing both moles of by 0.0235 moles

magnesium = 0.0235/0.0235= 1mole
oxygen= 0.0235 /0.0235= 1mole

therefore the empirical formula = MgO