NEW YORK SCHOOL

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
TEACHER: GERMAN QUIÑONEZ – LINA
AREVALO Lab – Empirical formula
EIGHTH GRADE-2021

DETERMINATION OF THE EMPIRICAL FORMULA OF MAGNESIUM OXIDE

Background information

When magnesium and oxygen are heated together, they

readily undergo a chemical change (reaction):

magnesium + oxygen- } magnesium oxide (Rxn.1)

From the masses of magnesium and oxygen that combine, we can calculate the empirical formula
of magnesium oxide. We will weigh the magnesium before it combines with the oxygen, and we will
also weigh the product of the reaction, magnesium oxide. The final weighing is necessary because
we need to subtract the original weight of magnesium from this weight of product. We "weigh" the
oxygen in this indirect fashion because it is easier to do than to try to weigh the oxygen gas before
it combines with the magnesium.

If magnesium is heated in open air, its reaction with oxygen is rapid and spectacular. The metal
catches fire, burning with an intense white flame and with production of white smoke. (The metal
has been used in flares to provide light for nighttime military operations.) We can slow down the
reaction by limiting the supply of oxygen that reaches the magnesium; we do that by putting a
cover on the crucible that contains the magnesium sample.

Our procedure in this experiment is complicated by another fact. Magnesium is such an active
metal that it reacts with the relatively inactive element nitrogen:

magnesium + nitrogen- } magnesium nitride (Rxn. 2)

This occurs in competition with the reaction of magnesium with oxygen, so it is called a "side
reaction." You should realize that this side reaction uses up some of the magnesium that is
 supposed to be combining with oxygen.

Fortunately, it is possible to "undo" the reaction in this way:

NEW YORK SCHOOL
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
TEACHER: GERMAN QUIÑONEZ – LINA
AREVALO Lab – Empirical formula
EIGHTH GRADE-2021

-
magnesium nitride + water- } magnesium hydroxide + ammonia (Rxn. 3)

and

magnesium hydroxide- } magnesium oxide + water vapor (Rxn. 4)

To get reactions (3) and (4) to occur, we add water to the crucible contents at the end of the first
heating period. We then heat again to speed up reactions (3) and (4) and to evaporate any excess
water.

Materials

Safety goggles
Magnesium ribbon,
Mg Balance
Ring stand
Bunsen
burner
Ring support/ clay
triangle Crucible/ lid
Tongs
Clay
tile

Procedure

1. Fire the empty crucible and lid for about 3 minutes to remove water, oils, or other
 contaminants and to make sure there are no cracks. The bottom of the crucible should
glow red-hot for about 20 seconds. Remove the flame and cool the crucible with a lid.

2. Record the mass of the crucible in g once it has cooled. Do not handle it with your hands.
3. Obtain about 0.2 g magnesium ribbon (do not handle the ribbon with your hands). Fold the

NEW YORK SCHOOL

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
TEACHER: GERMAN QUIÑONEZ – LINA
AREVALO Lab – Empirical formula
EIGHTH GRADE-2021

ribbon to fit into the bottom of the crucible.

4. Record the mass of the magnesium ribbon and crucible in g.

5. Place the crucible securely on the clay triangle. Set the lid slightly off-center on the crucible
to allow air to enter but to prevent the magnesium oxide from escaping.

6. Place the Bunsen burner under the crucible, light it, and brush the bottom of the crucible
with the flame for about 1 minute; then, place the burner under the crucible and heat
strongly.

7. Heat until all the magnesium turns into gray-white powder (probably around 10 minutes).
8. Stop heating and allow the crucible, lid and contents to cool.

9. Add about 1 ml (~10 drops) of deionized water directly to the solid powder. Carefully waft
some of the gas that is generated toward your nose but be very careful. Record any odor.
Also, use tongs to carefully hold a piece of moist pH paper over the crucible. Record your
observations.

10. Heat the crucible and contents, with the lid slightly ajar, gently for about 2 minutes and then
strongly for about another 5 minutes.

11. Allow the crucible to cool and then record the mass of the crucible and contents in g. 12.
Follow instructions for oxide disposal given by your TA. Clean all equipment thoroughly and return
it.
Results. (Processing and evaluating)

1. mass of Mg metal used in g

Experiment 1:

- 0.159 g

Experiment 2:

- 0.14 g

Experiment 3:

- 0.153 g

2. mass of oxide product (MgxOy) formed in g

Experiment 1:
- 0.03 g
Experiment 2:
- 0.015 g
Experiment 3:
- 0.014 g
3. mass of O incorporated using the following equations, in g

mass of Mg + mass of O = mass of MgxOy

Experiment 1:
- 0.189 g
Experiment 2:
- 0.155 g
Experiment 3:

- 0.167 g
 4. mole ratio of Mg to O
Experiment 1:
- Mg: 0.159 g / 24.31 g*mol-1 = 6.541 x10-3 mol
- O: 0.03 g / 16.00 g*mol-1= 1.875 x10-3 mol
-
Experiment 2:
- Mg: 0.14g/ 24.31g*mol-1 =5.759 x 10-3 mol
- O: 0.015g/ 16.00 g*mol-1 = 9.375 10-4 mol
Experiment 3:
- Mg: 0.153 g / 24.31 g*mol-1 = 6.294 x 10-3 mol
- O: 0.014 g / 16.00 g*mol-1 = 8.75 x 10-4 mol

5. empirical formula of the oxide (lowest whole-number subscripts)

Experiment 1:
- Mg: 6.541x 1x 10-3 / 1.875x 10-3 = 3.5x2= 7
- O: 1.875x 10-3 / 1.875x 10-3 = 1x2= 2

Experiment 2:
- Mg: 5.759 x 10-3 mol / 9.375 x 10-4 mol = 6
- O: 9.375 x 10-4 mol / 9.375 x 10-4 mol = 1

Experiment 3:
- Mg: 6.294 x 10-3 mol / 8.75 x 10-4 mol = 7.2 x 5 = 36
- O: 8.75 x 10-4 mol / 8.75 x 10-4 mol = 1 x 5 = 5
6. percent by mass of Mg and O in this oxide
Experiment 1:
- Mg:
Mass of the element: 24.31*7= 170.17g*mol-1
Total mass of the compound: 170.17+ 32.00= 202.17g*mol-1
Percent of Mg= 170.17g*mol-1 / 202.17g*mol-1 x 100= 84.17 % of Mg
- O:
Mass of the element: 16.00*2= 32.00g*mol-1
Total mass of the compound: 32.00 + 170.17= 202.17g*mol-1
Percent of O: 32.00g*mol-1 / 202.17g*mol-1 x 100= 15.83 % of O
Experiment 2:
- Mg:
Mass of the element :24.31*6= 145.86 g*mol-1
Total mass of the compound: 145.86 + 16.00 = 161.86 g*mol-1
Percent of Mg= 145.86 g*mol-1 / 161.86 g*mol-1 x 100= 90.11% of Mg
- O:
Mass of the element: 16.00*1= 16.00 g*mol-1
Total mass of the compound: 16.00 + 145.86= 161.86 g*mol-1
Percent of O: 16.00 g*mol-1 / 161.86 g*mol-1 x 100 = 9.89% of O

Experiment 3:
- Mg:
Mass of the element: 24.31*36 = 875.16 g*mol-1
Total mass of the compound: 875.16 + 16.00 = 891.16 g*mol-1
Percent of Mg: 875.16 g*mol-1 / 891.16 g*mol-1 x 100 = 98.20% of Mg
- O:
Mass of the element: 16.00*5 = 80 g*mol-1
Total mass of the compound: 16.00 + 875.16 = 891.16 g*mol-1
Percent of O: 16.00 g*mol-1 / 891.16 g*mol-1 x 100 = 1.80% of O
 NEW YORK SCHOOL
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
TEACHER: GERMAN QUIÑONEZ – LINA
AREVALO Lab – Empirical formula
EIGHTH GRADE-2021

Discussion. (Reflecting on the impacts of science)

1. How does your experimental empirical formula compare to the theoretical empirical
(Mg2O) formula — do they match? What are primary sources of experimental error?
MgO

● In our experiment it did not give us the expected results since we had some
inconveniences in the execution of our experiment.

Random Error: error that cannot be controlled in the experiment.

-We were unable to fully remove the excess magnesium on the calipers.

- When putting the magnesium in the fire, it was inevitable that no powder would fall on
the table or out of the container.

Systematic Error: error that is the fault of the experimenter.

-Magnesium fell out of container

-Some of the containers containing the magnesium were turned over.

2. How would factors such as

a. incomplete conversion of Mg3N2 to MgO or
b. residual Mg(OH)2in the product affect your results?
 3. Does this method appear to be a valid way to determine the formula of metal oxides?

4. What is the difference between an empirical and a molecular formula?

● The molecular formula is the one giving the number of atoms of each of the elements

present in one molecule of a specific compound, and an empirical formula is a

formula giving the proportions of the elements present in a compound but not the

actual numbers or arrangement of atoms.

5. What is the proper empirical formula for the compound Cl2O4?

6. A compound has the empirical formula CH2O and a molecular weight of 150.0 g/mol. What is
the molecular formula?

● C=(12.01 X 1)= 12.01

● H=(1.01 x 2)= 2.02
● O=(16.00 X 1)= 16.00
● Total: 30.03
● 150.0 g/mol / 30.03 = 5
● CH2O X 5
● C5H10O5
 7. Calculate the mass of 1.00 mole of F2.

● 19.00 x 1.00 = 19.00 g

● 19.00 g x 2= 38
● 38 g of F

8. What is the empirical formula of a compound that consists of 69.9 % Fe and 30.1 % O?

● Fe = 69.9 % = 69.9 g

● O = 30.1 % = 30.1 g

● Fe: 69.9 g / 55.85 g*mol-1 = 1.25 mol

● O: 30.1 g / 16.00 g*mol-1 = 1.88 mol

● Fe: 1.25 / 1.25 = 1 x 2 = 2

● O: 1.88 / 1.25 = 1.5 x 2 = 3

● Fe2O3

Self-Evaluation (Inquiring and designing)

Research and describe with details the process to make the following exercise in the lab: To find the
empirical formula of a sulfide of copper, 1.956 g of copper wire is heated with a large excess of
elemental sulfur. An excess of sulfur ensures that all the copper reacts. Unreacted sulfur burns off to
leave behind copper sulfide weighing 2.477 g.
Procedure:

Fill a boiling tube with a 2 cm depth of sulfur. Cut an 8 cm long piece of copper wire, weigh it
and record the mass. Gently heat a 2 mm diameter glass rod and shape it into a small glass
hook that will hang over the lip of the boiling tube. Hang the piece of copper wire over the
hook, inside the tube. Clamp the tube at its top in position above a Bunsen burner on a
heat-proof mat in a fume cupboard and ensure the copper wire hangs freely without touching
the sides of the glass tube.

Place a roaring Bunsen burner below the tube and leave for five minutes. Often the sulfur gas
will ignite and burn with a beautiful blue colour, this is not a problem. Also, you may find the
lining of the jaws of the clamp will burn, but again this is not a problem when performed in a
fume cupboard.

On heating, the first observation will be the sulfur melting into a yellow, mobile liquid as it
changes into monoclinic sulfur (S8 rings). As the temperature rises further the liquid darkens
until it is nearly black and, unusually, it becomes more viscous owing to the formation of long,
tangled chains of sulfur. Further heating past 200°C and the viscosity falls as the long chains
breakdown to form shorter ones until the liquid starts to boil at 445°C at which point sulfur
vapour can be seen subliming to form a pale yellow solid on the cooler, upper walls of the
boiling tube. The copper wire reacts readily with the hot sulfur gas (S8, S4 and S2), forming a
dark grey, brittle crystalline solid of copper sulfide.

After ca five minutes of heating, carefully remove the hook and copper sulfide using tongs and
allow any excess sulfur to burn, thus cleaning the copper sulfide. Allow to cool and re-weigh
the copper sulfide noting the mass. After weighing, it is well worth breaking the copper sulfide
so that your students can examine the crystalline structure within.

As the sulfur in the boiling tube cools I highlight to my students how the viscosity of the liquid
changes on the tube wall. When the tube is almost cool enough to touch the sulfur changes
from a sticky, treacle-like fluid to a more honey-like liquid. At this point scratch the inside of the
glass tube with the end of a pair of sharp scissors so that your students can watch the sulfur
crystallise, much like frost forming on a window. Note the increase in temperature as new
bonds are formed.