Percentage Composition by Mass of Magnesium Oxide
Percentage composition by mass of magnesium oxide – Report
Objective: To measure and calculate the ratio of magnesium to oxygen in magnesium oxide. To compare the lab ratio to the percent composition calculation based on the formula.
Hypothesis: Based on the law of definite proportions, the percentage composition of magnesium oxide should be around 60% magnesium and 40% oxygen.
Materials:
* Goggles * Centigram or analytical balance * 2-4 cm magnesium ribbon * Steel Wool * Porcelain crucible and lid * Bunsen Burner * Retort Stand * Ring Stand and Clamp * Clay Triangle * Crucible Tongs * Glass Stirring Rod * Distilled Water
Calculations + Observation:
Please see the back of the report.
Discussion:
B) The fact that magnesium oxide was formed, which is a new substance, proved that a chemical reaction had taken place.
E) Yes, the law of definite proportions is valid, because most of the other groups that had not encountered as many errors as us and they had more accurate results which were closer to the predicted compositions according to the law. The rest had similar results to us which proves that their errors were similar to ours.
H) The white film on the surface of the magnesium was polished because it prevents reactions of magnesium and gas elements in the air. This was necessary because we wanted magnesium to react with oxygen and therefore had to remove the white film.
Conclusion:
J) Yes, the law of definite proportions is valid, because most of the other groups that had not encountered as many errors as us had more accurate results. The rest had similar results which proves that their errors were similar as well.
Sources of error:
You have to be very precautious while doing this experiment. Here are reasons/possible errors that could have been
Objective: To measure and calculate the ratio of magnesium to oxygen in magnesium oxide. To compare the lab ratio to the percent composition calculation based on the formula.
Hypothesis: Based on the law of definite proportions, the percentage composition of magnesium oxide should be around 60% magnesium and 40% oxygen.
Materials:
* Goggles * Centigram or analytical balance * 2-4 cm magnesium ribbon * Steel Wool * Porcelain crucible and lid * Bunsen Burner * Retort Stand * Ring Stand and Clamp * Clay Triangle * Crucible Tongs * Glass Stirring Rod * Distilled Water
Calculations + Observation:
Please see the back of the report.
Discussion:
B) The fact that magnesium oxide was formed, which is a new substance, proved that a chemical reaction had taken place.
E) Yes, the law of definite proportions is valid, because most of the other groups that had not encountered as many errors as us and they had more accurate results which were closer to the predicted compositions according to the law. The rest had similar results to us which proves that their errors were similar to ours.
H) The white film on the surface of the magnesium was polished because it prevents reactions of magnesium and gas elements in the air. This was necessary because we wanted magnesium to react with oxygen and therefore had to remove the white film.
Conclusion:
J) Yes, the law of definite proportions is valid, because most of the other groups that had not encountered as many errors as us had more accurate results. The rest had similar results which proves that their errors were similar as well.
Sources of error:
You have to be very precautious while doing this experiment. Here are reasons/possible errors that could have been