Question

Question: Dolomite bricks are used in the linings of furnaces in the cement and steel industries. Pure dolomite contains$45.7\%{\mathrm{MgCO}}_3$and$54.3\%{\mathrm{CaCO}}_3$by mass. Determine the empirical formula of dolomite.

Short answer

The empirical formula of dolomite becomes $\mathrm{CaMg}{\left({\mathrm{CO}}_3\right)}_2$.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1:

The formula of Dolomite is ${\mathrm{MgCO}}_3.{\mathrm{CaCO}}_3$and it is a ore of Magnesium.

Step 2:

The pure dolomite contains $45.7\%{\mathrm{MgCO}}_3$and $54.3\%{\mathrm{CaCO}}_3$ by mass. Hence the empirical formula of dolomite becomes $\mathrm{CaMg}{\left({\mathrm{CO}}_3\right)}_2$.