The balanced chemical reaction would be written as follows:
2Mg + O2 = 2MgO
We are given the amount magnesium to be used in the reaction. This will be the starting point for the calculations. We do as follows:
15.0 g ( 1 mol / 24.31 g ) (2 mol MgO / 2 mol Mg ) (40.31 g / mol ) = 24.87 g MgO formed
Is this still true at the end?- I think this could be answered either way.
I think that Nick hates the way money makes people act and that the rest of the characters are so caught up in this that it causes the outcome (or tragedy) at the end of the book.