1. Calculate the mass of magnesium and mass of magnesium oxide. Record those values in Table 3.
Table 3: Measurements and calculations of the crucible, magnesium, and magnesium oxide mass
|
Parameter |
Trial 1 |
|
Mass of the crucible and lid (g) |
39.031 g |
|
Mass of the crucible, lid, and magnesium (g) |
39.243 g |
|
Mass of magnesium (g) |
0.2100 g |
|
Mass of crucible, lid, and magnesium oxide (g) |
39.366 g |
|
Mass of magnesium oxide (g) |
0.3350 g |
|
Amount of magnesium in the compound (mol) |
0.0086 mol |
|
Mass of oxygen in the compound (g) |
0.1250 g |
|
Amount of oxygen in the compound (mol) |
0.0078 mol |
|
Simplest whole number ratio of oxygen to magnesium |
1:1 |
|
Experimental empirical formula of the compound using significant figures |
1:1 |
|
Suggested empirical formula of the compound using whole numbers |
1:1 |
The accepted empirical formula of magnesium oxide is MgO.
(Mg = +2, O = -2)
My result ratio was slightly less than the accepted empirical formula ratio of 1:1 for magnesium oxide. Sources of error that may have affected the results could be human error. For example, contamination of the crucible causes particles to alter the mass in the experiment. Also, if all the magnesium was not formed into MgO, this could have caused a result change.