Let us assume that there is a 100g sample of Opal. The masses of each element will be:
29.2g Si
33.3g O
37.5g H2O
Now we divide each constituent's mass by its Mr to get the moles present
Si: (29.2 / 28) = 1.04
O: (33.3 / 16) = 2.08
H2O: (37.5 / 18) = 2.08
Now we divide by the smallest number and obtain:
Si: 1
O: 2
H2O: 2
Thus, the empirical formula of Opal is:
SiO2 . 2H2O
Mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus
Positive ions or molecules that have lost one or more electrons where negative ions are actually oxygen atoms with extra negatively charged electrons.
