Magnesium Oxide Lab Report
Rashpreet Singh
Date Performed: November 6, 2014
Research Question:
To determine the empirical formula of the compound which forms between magnesium and oxygen.
Design:
The following figure represents the experiments lab setup, visualize the equipment used.
Materials: Done
1. Ceramic evaporating dish
2. Electronic balance
3. Bunsen burner
4. Retort stand, ring clamp, clay triangle
5. Sand Paper
6. Tongs
7. Magnesium Ribbon
Safety: Done
1. The duration of this experiment it is a must to wear safety glasses and lab coat at all times during the lab, even when not working directly with the chemicals or apparatus.
2. Do not touch the apparatus, during the experiment it may still be which further can lead to burns.
3. Be careful around the bunsen burner, even when switched off – they may still be hot!
4. Do not inhale the magnesium ribbon.
5. Do not touch the magnesium ribbon.
6. Always wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling any chemicals.
Procedure:
1. Record the mass of a clean, dry crucible with its lid. (Handle the crucible with tongs, not your fingers, to avoid moisture and oil from your fingers being transferred.)
2. Use fine sand paper to scrape the oxide coating from the surface of a strip of magnesium ribbon approximately 2 cm length. Cut the ribbon into small pieces, place in the crucible, and weigh the crucible, its Iid and contents.
3. Heat the crucible in a hot flame for 10 minutes, ensuring that the magnesium is exposed to air but that no solid escapes. After this time the magnesium should have been converted to a white powder.
4. Allow the crucible to cool and then add 10 drops of water to convert the magnesium nitride to magnesium hydroxide.
5. Heat the crucible gently to drive off any water, then strongly for 3 minutes to convert the magnesium hydroxide to magnesium oxide.
6. Allow the crucible to cool. Weigh the crucible, its lid, and the product of the reaction.
Data