Percent Yield Lab Report

Instructions: For this investigative phenomenon, you will need to determine the percent yield of
magnesium oxide from the given reaction to determine if it is a useful commercial process.
Record your data and calculations in the lab report below. You will submit your completed
report.

Title: ​Percent Yield Lab

Objective(s): ​Use stoichiometry to find how much product (magnesium oxide) is formed from
the reaction (the percent yield of magnesium oxide)

Hypothesis:

No hypothesis needed for this lab. Your theoretical yield calculation serves as your prediction for
what you expect the lab to produce, and that will be determined later in the lab.

Procedure:

Access the virtual lab. Because this lab is virtual, summarize the steps used to collect your data.
In addition, list and explain your controlled variables, independent variable, and dependent
variable for this lab.

Materials:

Percent Yield Virtual Lab

Variables:

Remember, controlled variables are factors that remain the same throughout the
experiment. An independent (test) variable changes so that the experimenter can see the
effect on other variables. The dependent (outcome) variable will change in response to
the test variable.

Controlled variables: ​amount of time that the heat is applied (the amount of time
remains constant throughout all of the trials)

Independent Variable: ​Amount of Mg (there were different sizes of magnesium

ribbons that had different weights)
 Dependent Variable: ​MgO (the product of the reaction)

Summary of Steps:

1. weigh the empty crucible

2. cut the length of the magnesium ribbon
3. weigh the ribbon and the crucible
4. heat ribbon in closed crucible for 10 minutes
5. let it cool
6. weigh the crucible
7. record the results

Data:

Type the data in the data table below. Don’t forget to record measurements with the correct
number of significant figures. ​Hint: Using the same instrument, you should have the same
number of digits to the right of the decimal.

Data Trial 1 Trial 2

Mass of empty crucible with lid 26.692 26.684
Mass of Mg metal, crucible, and 26.947 26.994
lid
Mass of MgO, crucible, and lid 27.109 27.191

Calculations:

Show your calculations for each of the following​. Remember, calculations should
follow rules for significant figures.

1. Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction you are performing.

2Mg + O2 = 2MgO

2. Subtract the mass of the crucible and lid (row 1 in the chart) from the total mass
of Mg, crucible, and lid (row 2 in the chart) to find the mass of magnesium for
each trial.
● Trial 1: ​0.255
● Trial 2: ​0.31

3. Subtract the mass of the crucible and lid (row 1 in the chart) from the total mass
of MgO, crucible, and lid (row 3 in the chart) to find the mass of magnesium
oxide for each trial. This is the ​actual yield​ of magnesium oxide for each trial.
 ● Trial 1: ​0.417
● Trial 2: ​0.507

4. Magnesium is the limiting reactant in this experiment. Calculate the ​theoretical

yield​ of MgO for each trial.
● Trial 1: ​0.423
● Trial 2: ​0.514

5. Determine the percent yield of MgO for your experiment for each trial.
● Trial 1: ​105%
● Trial 2: ​100%

6. Determine the average percent yield of MgO for the two trials. ​102.5%

Conclusion:

Write a conclusion statement that addresses the following questions:

● Explain why the product had a higher mass than the reactant, and how this relates to
conservation of matter.
● What sources of error may have contributed to the percent yield not being 100 percent?
(Think about things that may have led to inaccurate measurements or where mass of the
product could have been lost if this experiment was conducted in a physical laboratory.)
● How do you think the investigation can be explored further?

The product had a higher mass than the reactant because of molar mass. The molar mass of MgO is
greater than the molar mass of Mg. This means that the mass of one mole of each would be different even
though the mole ratio is 1:1. This relates to the law of conservation of matter because even though the
mass is different there is the same number of moles in the reactants and the products.

in a physical laboratory there are quite a few conditions that could lead to inaccurate measurements. One
of these could be not heating the Mg long enough for it to combust and fully undergo the reaction which
would result in less weight. Another possibility is incorrect weight of the crucible or both the crucible and
the metal, which would also result in less weight.

This investigation could be explored further by changing the controlled variable, which is the amount of
time that the Mg is heated in the crucible. It could also be explored further using more varying amounts of
Mg , from very little to a lot. It would be interesting to see potential changes in results.

Post-Lab Reflection Questions

Answer the reflection questions using what you have learned from the lesson and your
experimental data. It will be helpful to refer to your chemistry journal notes. Answer questions in
complete sentences.

1. When conducting this experiment, some procedures call for heating the substance several
times and recording the mass after each heating, continuing until the mass values are
constant. Explain the purpose of this process and how it might reduce errors.

All of the Mg may not react the first time you heat it. Because of this, heating it until the mass
remains constant assures that all of the Mg has reacted and is no longer undergoing a reaction .
This will reduce the amount of errors because the recorded mass for the MgO post-reaction will
be correct.

2. Your company currently uses a process with a similar cost of materials that has an
average percent yield of 91 percent. If the average percent yield of this process is higher
than that, this could save the company money. What is your recommendation to the
company? Please support your recommendation using your data, calculations, and
understanding of stoichiometry gathered from this lab.

First, it would be important that they use multiple heatings, just as the last question suggests.
Multiple heatings make sure that all of the Mg has reacted. Mg is the limiting reactant, and if it
has all reacted that would produce a higher yield. Also, the mole ratio of Mg to MgO is 1:1, it is
important to ensure that all of the Mg goes through the reaction in order to yield the highest
amount of product.