Experiment to find the ratio of Magnesium to Oxygen in Magnesium Oxide.

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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:

  1. Select a complete crucible and lid.
  2. Clean the crucible and lid to make sure that there will be no other reactants inside the crucible other than what is required.
  3. Using the electric balance weigh the complete crucible with the lid firmly placed on the top.
  4. 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
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Place the crucible on top of the crucible stand.
  8. Change the Bunsen burner from having a safety flame to a roaring blue flame by making the air hole fully open.
  9. 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.
  10. 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).
  11. Repeat steps seven to ten until the final weight remains constant, thus all the reactants have been used up.
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Calculations

Conclusion

From the results in the tables concerning the first experiment it is possible to see that magnesium oxide has the formula Mg O.

From the results in the tables concerning the second experiment it is possible to see that magnesium oxide has the formula MgO.

The correct formula for magnesium oxide is MgO.  Therefore an error has occurred in experiment one.

Sources of error

Possible sources of error include:

  • The crucible may not have been completely clean therefore there will have been reactants in there that have not been included ...

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