Experiment to find the ratio of Magnesium to Oxygen in Magnesium Oxide
Aim
The aim of this experiment was to find the ratio between magnesium and oxygen in magnesium oxide. You must find the amount of products and reactants. To do this it is possible to use the following method
Method
Equipment:
- Crucible and crucible lid
- 4cm of magnesium(s) strip
- Electric balance
- Bunsen burner
- Tripod
- Crucible stand
- Pair of tongs
Instructions:
- Select a complete crucible and lid.
- Clean the crucible and lid to make sure that there will be no other reactants inside the crucible other than what is required.
- Using the electric balance weigh the complete crucible with the lid firmly placed on the top.
- Measure four centimetres of magnesium(s) strip and separate it from the roll of magnesium strip. Place the four centimetre piece of magnesium strip inside the crucible
- Again using the electric balance now measure the complete crucible with the lid firmly placed on the top with the four centimetre piece of magnesium strip inside it.
- Now set up the lit Bunsen burner, on a safety flame (air hole fully closed), underneath the tripod with the crucible stand placed on top.
- Place the crucible on top of the crucible stand.
- Change the Bunsen burner from having a safety flame to a roaring blue flame by making the air hole fully open.
- Occasionally, using a pair of tongs, briefly lift the crucible lid to see if the reactants have stopped reacting. This also allows extra oxygen to get into the normally sealed crucible thus allowing the reactants to react fully.
- Once it appears that the reactants have finished reacting turn off the Bunsen burner and allow the crucible to cool. When the crucible is cool weigh it using the electric balance (the weight should have increased from step five).
- Repeat steps seven to ten until the final weight remains constant, thus all the reactants have been used up.