The formula of magnesium oxide

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David Dries

Title:        The formula of magnesium oxide

Date:        11th May 2001

Aim:        To find the formula of magnesium oxide by burning a weighed amount of magnesium in air.

Conclusion:        When magnesium is burnt in air, it reacts with oxygen to form magnesium oxide.  Once each magnesium atom has bonded with an oxygen atom the weight then changes.  The weight change can then be used to find the formula of magnesium oxide.  The formula of magnesium oxide is MgO.


Background:

When magnesium is burned in air magnesium oxide is formed.  During this reaction the magnesium reacts with oxygen atoms to form a bond between the two, thus becoming heavier in the process.

Relevant terms:

1)        Mole: The amount of a substance which contains as many atoms or molecules as there are in exactly 12 grams of carbon 12 isotope.

2)        Crucible: A container used for heating substances, capable of withstanding extreme heat.

3)        Forum: Justification of Procedure:  This procedure was used as it is the only way of forming magnesium oxide in air. 

Oxidation is the loss of electrons.  An oxidant is a substance, which oxidises some other substances.  This means that it takes electrons away from that other substance, that is it gains electrons hence an oxidant is itself reduced.

The time the magnesium was heated for was changed because nothing was happening so there was no point using all 10mins.

A crucible is a vessel used for heat substances to high temperature and that is the reason it was used in this experiment.

A hot object affects the balance because there could be many things on the object caused by the heat speeding up the activity of the object then there would be with a cool one.

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Empirical formula is the smallest whole number ratio of elements in the compound.

Step 10 of the procedure was repeated after the weight had increased because there were still impurities there that had not been removed from the heat.

The white particles of magnesium were not allowed to leave the crucible because it would affect the weight of the crucible.

A light flame is a blue flame with the gas not on all the way.

The crucible and content was suppose to be right on the dark flame cause that is the hottest part of the flame and the reaction ...

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