Here's how to determine the empirical formula for calcium carbonate:

* Charges:

* Calcium (Ca) has a +2 charge (Ca²⁺)

* Carbonate (CO₃) has a -2 charge (CO₃²⁻)

* Balancing: Since the charges are equal and opposite, they cancel each other out perfectly. This means we need one calcium ion and one carbonate ion to form a neutral compound.

* Empirical Formula: The empirical formula for calcium carbonate is CaCO₃.