You can use information about reacting masses to calculate the formula of a compound. Here is an example:

Question

• Suppose 3.2 g of sulfur reacts with oxygen to produce 6.4 g of sulfur oxide. What is the formula of the oxide?
• Use the fact that the A_rof sulfur is 32 and the A_rof oxygen is 16

Answer

Find the mass of each element. Conservation of mass tells us that the mass of oxygen = the mass of sulfur oxide - the mass of sulfur.

The mass of oxygen reacted = 6.4 - 3.2 =…