Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
• Objective .......................................................................................................................................3
• Equipment......................................................................................................................................3
• Experimental Procedure.................................................................................................................3
• Observations...................................................................................................................................4
• Data Table......................................................................................................................................4
• Calculations....................................................................................................................................4
• Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................5
Objective and Equipment
Objective:
The objective of this lab is to experimentally determine the empirical formula of Magnesium Oxide.
Equipment:
• Ring Stand
• 5 inch ring
• wire gauze
• Butane burner
• Magnesium
• Crucible tongs
• Safety glasses
• Gloves
Experimental Procedure
2. Obtain desired amount of Magnesium, a crucible with a lid and crucible tongs.
3. Weigh the crucible, crucible lid and the obtained magnesium and record respective weights.
4. Heat the crucible with the magnesium in it and place the lid so that there is a small opening.
7. Shut burner down and let the magnesium cool for about ten minutes.
8. After ten minutes, add enough water to the magnesium to submerge half of the ash.
9. Now, heat the crucible at low heat till the water evaporates.
10. Once the water evaporates, heat crucible at medium heat for a minute with the lid places such
13. Weigh the Crucible along with the magnesium and record the weight.
Observations
• After step five, butane burner was replaced due to technical difficulties.
• After step seven, magnesium ash was observed to be a Grey white color.
• As step ten took place and the water evaporated, a strong odor was observed.
• At the end of the experiment the magnesium was still observed to be a Grey white color.
Data Table
OBJECT MASS(grams)
Empty crucible and lid 37.2
Empty crucible and lid with magnesium 37.62
Empty crucible and lid with combustion product 37.9
Magnesium net weight 0.42
Combustion product net weight 0.7
Weight of oxygen in the product 0.28
Calculations
OBJECT NUMBER
The mass of Mg used 0.42g
The number of moles used is 0.01715696 mole Mg
Mass of magnesium oxide formed 0.697g
Mass of O combined with Mg 0.28g
Number of moles of O 0.0175006 mole O
Conclusion
After the experiment was conducted, arduous calculation followed. From the results of the calculation
it is apparent that the ratio of the number of moles of Oxygen to the number of moles of Magnesium is
one to one. This results in the empirical formula being MgO but the lab may have been subject to
human error.