EXPERIMENT:

THE EMPIRICAL FORMULA OF MAGNESIUM OXIDE.

To determine the empirical formula of magnesium
AIM
oxide.
Problem
What is the empirical formula of magnesium oxide ?
Statement

Hypothesis The empirical formula for magnesium oxide is MgO.

Manipulated variable : Magnesium ribbon

Variables Responding variable : Mass of magnesium oxide
Fixed variables : Excess water / Magnesium ribbon

Crucible with lid, tongs, Bunsen burner, Tripod stand,

Apparatus
Pipe-clay triangle and balance.

Materials 10 cm magnesium ribbon, Sandpaper

Figure

1. A crucible and its lid are weighed.

2. A 10 cm length of magnesium ribbon is cleaned with
氧 化 物
sandpaper to remove the oxide layer on its surface.
3. The ribbon is rolled up / coiled loosely and put inside
Procedure
the crucible. The crucible and its lid and content are
weighed.
4. The apparatus is set up as shown in Figure.
5. The crucible is heated strongly without its lid.
 6. When the magnesium starts to burn, the crucible is
covered with its lid.
7. Using a pair of tongs, the lid is carefully raised a little at
间 隔
intervals.
8. When the burning is complete, the lid is removed and
the crucible is heated strongly for 1 to 2 minutes.
9. The crucible with its lid still on is allowed to cool to room
temperature.
10. The crucible with its lid and content are weighed again.
11. The processes of heating, cooling and weighing are
repeated until a constant mass is obtained. The constant
mass obtained is recorded.
Description Mass(g)
Crucible + lid x
Crucible + lid + magnesium y
Crucible + lid + magnesium oxide z
Magnesium y-x
Oxygen z–y
Data &
Observation
Element Magnesium, Mg Oxygen, O
Mass (g) y–x z-y
Number of y–x z–y
moles of atoms 24 16
Simplest ratio of
moles
1) Magnesium reacts with oxygen in the air to form
white fumes ( magnesium oxide ).
Mg + O2 → 2MgO

2) Why is the magnesium ribbon cleaned with

Discussion
sandpaper before use ?
to remove the oxide layer on the surface of
magnesium ribbon.

3) State the reasons for the following.

 a) Covering the crucible with lid as soon as the
magnesium starts burning to prevent the
escaping of white fumes.

b) Raising the lid at intervals during heating to allow

oxygen to enter to react with magnesium.

c) Heating, cooling, weighing process is repeated

until a constant mass is obtained to ensure all the
magnesium had reacted completely.

4) This method can also be used to determine the

empirical formulae of oxides of other high reactivity
metals such as calcium oxide, aluminium oxide and
zinc oxide.

Conclusion The empirical formula for magnesium oxide is MgO.

o Magnesium ribbon is cleaned with sandpaper.

- to remove the oxide layer on the surface of
magnesium ribbon.

o Covered the crucible with lid immediately when

magnesium starts to burn.
- to prevent the escaping of white fume.
Precautions
o The lid is raised a little at intervals.
- allow oxygen gas to enter to react with
magnesium.

o Heating, Cooling, Weighing process is repeated

until a constant mass is obtained.
- ensure all the magnesium had reacted completely
with oxygen.