Coupled Reaction
Coupled Reactions
Louella Rose E. Tan, Frances May L. Coralde
Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines
Results and Discussion
A combustion reaction is a reaction that liberates heat and light. Magnesium is a stable element and reacts violently with evolution of much heat and light. The reason the magnesium burned in carbon dioxide was because it combined with the oxygen in the CO2 leaving elemental carbon behind.
CO2(g) C(S) + O2(g)
2Mg(S) + O2(g) 2MgO(S)
2Mg (S) + CO2(g) 2MgO(S) + C(S)
The Mg ribbon burned in air resulted to a white product while the Mg ribbon burned in dry ice had a black product. The white product formed was MgO(S) while the black product formed was C(S). The magnesium had been oxidized and the carbon in carbon dioxide has been reduced to elemental carbon.
The Mg ribbon burned in dry ice also had some white products. It was due to the reaction with oxygen in air when it was being lighted up. Before the slab of dry ice was put on top, some oxygen already reacted with magnesium resulting to a white product.
References
Silberberg, M.S., Principles of General Chemistry, 2nd edition. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2010; page 692-693
Answers to Question 1. Why does it take a long time to light the Mg ribbon?
Starting a fire requires oxygen, fuel and a source of heat. Since the Mg ribbon is placed on dry ice which is made up of CO2, the needed oxygen is replaced by the CO2 which is denser and thus the burning of Mg ribbon takes a long time.
2. Why is it important to immediately cover the Mg ribbon with the other slab of dry ice once it starts burning?
If it is not covered immediately by dry ice the Mg ribbon will react with oxygen instead of CO2 leaving more white product than black.
3. Using theoretical ∆G⁰ values for the reactants and products in the system, calculate the ∆G⁰ rxn. Explain experimental observations based on the calculated ∆G⁰ rxn.
Louella Rose E. Tan, Frances May L. Coralde
Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines
Results and Discussion
A combustion reaction is a reaction that liberates heat and light. Magnesium is a stable element and reacts violently with evolution of much heat and light. The reason the magnesium burned in carbon dioxide was because it combined with the oxygen in the CO2 leaving elemental carbon behind.
CO2(g) C(S) + O2(g)
2Mg(S) + O2(g) 2MgO(S)
2Mg (S) + CO2(g) 2MgO(S) + C(S)
The Mg ribbon burned in air resulted to a white product while the Mg ribbon burned in dry ice had a black product. The white product formed was MgO(S) while the black product formed was C(S). The magnesium had been oxidized and the carbon in carbon dioxide has been reduced to elemental carbon.
The Mg ribbon burned in dry ice also had some white products. It was due to the reaction with oxygen in air when it was being lighted up. Before the slab of dry ice was put on top, some oxygen already reacted with magnesium resulting to a white product.
References
Silberberg, M.S., Principles of General Chemistry, 2nd edition. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2010; page 692-693
Answers to Question 1. Why does it take a long time to light the Mg ribbon?
Starting a fire requires oxygen, fuel and a source of heat. Since the Mg ribbon is placed on dry ice which is made up of CO2, the needed oxygen is replaced by the CO2 which is denser and thus the burning of Mg ribbon takes a long time.
2. Why is it important to immediately cover the Mg ribbon with the other slab of dry ice once it starts burning?
If it is not covered immediately by dry ice the Mg ribbon will react with oxygen instead of CO2 leaving more white product than black.
3. Using theoretical ∆G⁰ values for the reactants and products in the system, calculate the ∆G⁰ rxn. Explain experimental observations based on the calculated ∆G⁰ rxn.
References: Silberberg, M.S., Principles of General Chemistry, 2nd edition. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2010; page 692-693 Answers to Question