1. Move the decimal point to the right until you have a number between 1 and 10. In this case, you need to move it five places to the right: 8.54

2. Count the number of places you moved the decimal. Since you moved it five places to the right, the exponent of 10 will be -5.

3. Combine the number and the exponent: 8.54 x 10⁻⁵

Therefore, 0.0000854 in scientific notation is 8.54 x 10⁻⁵.