me: Yap Jia Wei

Class: 4 Science 1
Date: 20/2/2014

Title: The Empirical Formula of Magnesium Oxide

Aim: To determine the empirical formula of magnesium oxide.
Problem Statement: How does the formula of magnesium oxide determine?
Hypothesis: The empirical formula of magnesium oxide is MgO.
Variables:
1. Manipulated variable: The state of magnesium.
2. Responding variable: The empirical formula of magnesium oxide.
3. Constant variable: Length of the magnesium ribbon.
Apparatus: Crucible with lid, Bunsen burner, crucible tongs, tripod stand, pipe-clay triangleand
weighing balance.
Materials: Magnesium ribbon and sandpaper.
Diagram

Procedure:
1. The crucible with lid is weighed.
2. The magnesium ribbon is cleaned using the sandpaper to remove oxide
layer.
3. The magnesium oxide is coiled and placed into the crucible.
4. The crucible is weighed again.
5. The crucible is placed above the pipe-clay triangle on the tripod stand and is
strongly heated by the Bunsen burner.
6. The lid is lifted up from time to time.
7. After the burning is completed, the crucible is leaved to cool.
8. The crucible is then weighed again.
Observation:
1. The magnesium ribbon burns and glow with sparks.
2. The colour of the flame turns from whitish to yellow.
3. The magnesium ribbon turns into white ash after the burning.
Results:
Items

Mass
1st

2nd

3rd

Average

54.09

54.08

54.09

54.087

Crucible + Lid +
Magnesium

53.95

53.96

53.97

53.96

Crucible + Lid

53.73

53.72

53.71

53.72

Crucible + Lid +
Magnesium
Oxide

Calculations:
Element
Mass / g

Magnesium
53.96-53.72
= 0.24

Oxygen
54.087-53.96
= 0.127

Number of moles of atoms

Simplest ratio of moles

0.24
24
= 0.01

0.127
16
= 0.0079375

0.01
0.0079375
= 1.2598

0.0079375
0.0079375
=1

Mg : O = 1.2598 : 1
Inference: The empirical formula of magnesium oxide is MgO. It is because magnesium has +2
ions and O has -2 ions. Therefore, the reaction of magnesium and oxygen form MgO.

Discussion:
1. The lid is lifted up from time to time to allow oxygen to enter the crucible and
react with magnesium.
2. Magnesium reacts with oxygen to form magnesium oxide.
Magnesium + oxygen MgO
3. The calculation was wrong due to not enough time to cool down apparatus.
Conclusion: The empirical formula of magnesium oxide is MgO where Mg=1 and O=1.

Bibliography
Book:
Eng, Lim, Lim (2014). Focus Chemistry SPM. Selangor Darul Ehsan: Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn.
Bhd.
Website:
Marked by Teachers. (2003, September 22). Experiment: To Determine the Empirical Formula of
Magnesium Oxide. Retrieved February 5, 2014, from
http://www.markedbyteachers.com/gcse/science/experiment-to-determine-the-empiricalformula-of-magnesium-oxide.html