Overwriters Laboratories inc.

Fear The Penguins!

Paul Atkinson, Scott Jaderholm, Cedric Shock

Lab on Magnesium Oxide

Purpose

We will react magnesium with oxygen by burning it. We will determine the mole ratio of the elements in the compound.

Data & Observations

Mass of magnesium reacted	.09 g
Mass of empty crucible	12.02 g
Mass of crucible and contents after heating	12.16 g
Mass of contents (magnesium oxide)	.14 g
Mass of oxygen reacted	.05 g

Calculations

Moles of Mg reacted	0.00370
Moles of O reacted	0.00313
Mole ratio of Mg to O	1.18

Conclusion

Our magnesium oxide was calculated to consist of 1.18 parts Mg to 1 part O. If magnesium oxide has the formula MgO this represents an 18.2 % error. This could be the result of the magnesium not reacting completely.