MAGNESIUM OXIDE LAB

CHEMISTRY LAB REPORT

SEPTEMBER 23 rd , 2009

LAB PERFORMED BY:

Narendran Sairam and Steven Kraplin

Table Of Contents

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

Crucible and Crucible lid

Butane burner

Magnesium

Crucible tongs

Safety glasses

Gloves

Experimental Procedure

1. Setup ring stand with five inch ring and triangle.

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.

5. Continue to heat at medium heat for five minutes.

6. Then, heat at high heat for five minutes.

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

that there is a small opening.

11. Then heat at high heat for five minutes.

12. Finally, allow another ten minute cooling period.

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 six, magnesium was observed to be a bright red color.

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.