School Of The Arts, Singapore

IBDP Year 5
Chemistry Practical P2
Gravimetric Method: Determination of the empirical formula of
magnesium oxide
Name: Nathaniel Lim
Class: P5
Date: 8th February 2015
Ar of Mg: 24.31, O: 16.00
10 cm of Magnesium Ribbon used for each test.
l. Raw Data
1st try

2nd try

22.921

22.941

23.094

23.131

23.111

23.218

The original colour of

the magnesium
ribbon is sliver.
Through the
experiment of
burning the ribbon,
slight colour change

The original colour of

the magnesium
ribbon is sliver.
Through the
experiment of
burning the ribbon,
slight colour change

Mass of crucible (g):

Mass of crucible +
Mg ribbon (g):

Mass of crucible +
Mg ribbon after
combustion (g):

Values used:
Observations:

will be noticeable.
From sliver to white
ash. When the
Magnesium ribbon is
fully burnt, it gives
out a glowing bright
light (white, yellowish
orange colour). After
completely burning
the ribbon, it turns
into powder while
still remaining
partially in the
original form.
However, white
powder is released
into the surroundings
after opening the lid
of the crucible.

will be noticeable.
From sliver to white
ash. When the
Magnesium ribbon is
fully burnt, it gives
out a glowing bright
light (white, yellowish
orange colour). After
completely burning
the ribbon, it turns
into powder while
still remaining
partially in the
original form.
However, white
powder is released
into the surroundings
after opening the lid
of the crucible.

(The uncertainty for the above values is ( 0.001), as it the

measurements were obtained from the electronic balance)
ll. Processed data:
1st experiment
Mass of crucible (g): 22.921g (0.001)
Mass of crucible + Magnesium ribbon (g): 23.094g (0.001)
Mass of crucible + Magnesium ribbon after combustion (g):
23.111g (0.001)
Mass of Magnesium ribbon (g): 23.094 22.921 = 0.173g (0.002)
Combusted Mg ribbon (g): 23.111 23.094 = 0.170g (0.002)

Empirical Formula
Mg:

O:

Mass (g)

0.173

0.170

Ar

24.31

16.00

0.173
24.31

0.170
16.00

Moles:
Mass
Ar

= 0.007 (0.00008)

= 0.010 (0.0001)

Uncertainty:
Uncertainty:

uncertainty of mass
Ar

Uncertainty:

( 0.002)
24.31

Molar ratio

( 0.002)
16

= (0.00008)

= (0.0001)

0.007 0.007
=1

0.010 0.007
= 1.4

(1) 5
=5

(1.4) 5
= 7.1
7

Percentage uncertainty:
Formula:

[[
[[

mole of Mg mole of Mg
+
Mg
Mg

0.00008 0.00008
+
0.007
0.007

= [ 0.01+ 0.02 ] 100%

mole of O mole of Mg
+
O
Mg

0.0001 0.00008
+
0.01
0.007

]]

100%

]]

100%

= 3%
Empirical formula for the 1st experiment is: Mg5O7 with the
percentage uncertainty of 3%.
2nd Experiment:
Mass of crucible (g): 22.941g (0.001)
Mass of crucible + Magnesium ribbon (g): 23.131g (0.001)
Mass of crucible + Magnesium ribbon after combustion (g):
23.218g (0.001)
Mass of Magnesium ribbon (g): 23.131 22.941 = 0.190g (0.002)
Combusted Mg ribbon (g): 23.218 23.131 = 0.087g (0.002)
Empirical Formula
Mg:

O:

Mass (g)

0.190

0.087

Ar

24.31

16.00

0.190
24.31

0.087
16.00

Moles:
Mass
Ar

Uncertainty:
uncertainty of mass
Ar

= 0.0078
0.007 (0.00008)
Uncertainty:
( 0.002)
24.31

= (0.00008)

= 0.0054
0.005 (0.0001)
Uncertainty:
( 0.002)
16

= (0.0001)

Molar ratio

0.007 0.007
=1

0.005 0.007
= 0.7

(1) 7
=7

(0.7) 7
=5

Percentage uncertainty:
Formula:

[[
[[

mole of O mole of O
+
O
O

0.0001 0.0001
+
0.005
0.005

mole of Mg mole of O
+
Mg
O

0.00008 0.0001
+
0.007
0.005

]]

]]

100%

100%

= [ 0.4+ 0.03 ] 100%

= 43%
Empirical formula for the 2nd experiment is: Mg7O5 with the
percentage uncertainty of 43%.
Final Chemical Equation
Final empirical formula (avg of the two)
Molar ratio
1st experiment
2nd experiment
Total average:

Mg:
5
7
(7+5) 2 = 6

O:
7
5
(7+5) 2 = 6

Final percentage uncertainty of the experiment (avg of the two)

1st experiment
2nd experiment
Total average %

3%
43%
(3% + 43%) 2 = 23%

Final Empirical formula of Magnesium Oxide

6Mg(S) + 3O2(g) > Mg6O6 (S)

Conclusion (from the entire experiment)
The final empirical formula obtained from the results through the
experiment is (MgO2). The theoretical answer would have been
MgO but it would not have been attained due to the following
reasons: The Magnesium ribbon before combustion had already
contained unreacted magnesium together with the outer layer of
Magnesium oxide, since Magnesium is very reactive it would have
reacted with the oxygen in the surroundings. Therefore, the mass
obtained from the electronic balance is inaccurate, which led to an
empirical formula that does not agree with the theoretical formula
(MgO).
-NOT VALID CONCLUSION- RESULTS OBTAINED ARE
DIFFERENT.