Determining the Empirical Formula of Magnesium

Oxide
Intro
The empirical formula of a substance is the simplest whole number ratio of the
number of atoms of each element in the compound. This can be calculated
knowing the mass of each element and using this to calculate the number of
moles of each element.
In this experiment, you will carry out the following reaction:
Magnesium + Oxygen Magnesium Oxide
Aim: To determine the empirical formula of Magnesium Oxide by burning
magnesium.
Hypothesis: The empirical formula will be MgO.
Method:
1. Heat crucible + lid for five minutes and allow it to cool. (to remove water
moisture for accurate mass)
2. Weigh crucible + lid.
3. Clean surface of a 5cm piece of Magnesium using steel wool.
4. Coil the Magnesium and place it in the crucible and record mass of
Magnesium with crucible + lid.
5. Place crucible + contents onto a pipe clay triangle on top of a tripod.
6. Heat using blue flame until Magnesium burns.
7. Replace lid and heat for ten minutes.
8. Allow to cool then record mass.
Results
Object
Crucible + lid
Crucible + lid + magnesium
Magnesium
Crucible + lid + magnesium oxide
Magnesium oxide
Oxygen

Mass (g)
31.45g
31.62g
0.17g
31.70g
0.25g
0.08g

Steps to determine empirical formula of magnesium oxide:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Calculate moles of magnesium and oxygen.

Determine moles of magnesium to moles of oxygen.
Determine empirical formula of magnesium oxide.
Compare class results.
Compare actual ratio of practical.
Identify likely sources of error.

2Mg(s) + O2(g) 2MgO(s)

No of moles in Mg
= 0.17/24.31
= 0.006993 moles
No of moles in oxygen
= 0.08/32
= 0.0025 moles
Ratio
= 0.006993 : 0.0025
= 5:14
Therefore empirical formula is Mg5O14.
Discussion
The independent variable is the amount of magnesium and the dependent
variable is the mass of magnesium oxide. Controlled variables were the crucible
used, magnesium and Bunsen. However, the experiment was invalid because the
magnesium and Bunsen variables were not controlled due to problems that
occurred during the experiment.
The results obtained from the experiment were not equal to the actual ratio of
magnesium oxide because several things went wrong during the experiment. The
Bunsen burner was faulty and this affected the combustion of the magnesium as
the magnesium did not burn even though the Bunsen was on blue flame for an
extended period of time. After the Bunsen was replaced, the magnesium was
dropped on the table after it turned into magnesium oxide, so a new piece of
magnesium was required to complete the experiment. The new piece of
magnesium affected our results because it changed our measurements. The
magnesium was also not burnt properly the first time and needed to be reheated
again because a part of it was left unburnt. This may have changed the mass of
the magnesium oxide. The crucible that was used had chemical residue and this
may have added more mass to the crucible, which would affect the results.
Conclusion
The hypothesis was not supported. The practical ratio did not equal to the
theoretical ratio.