Law of Definite Proportions Lab 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.
Background
The Law of Definite Composition states that the elements that form a compound
always combine in the same proportion by mass. The compound water H20 always is a
chemical combination of hydrogen and oxygen in a 1! ratio by mass. "f a mixture of
hydrogen and oxygen in some other ratio# say 12# were reacted# there would be water
formed# but there would also be some unreacted hydrogen# because water always forms
in the 1! ratio by mass.
"n this experiment# you will examine the reaction between magnesium metal# $g#
and the oxygen in the air# %2. The magnesium will be heated strongly in a crucible for
se&eral minutes. The mass of magnesium will be compared with the mass of the material
produced.
Pre-lab Questions:
1. 'hy is it important to begin this experiment with a clean and dry crucible(
2. 'hat is the purpose of ma)ing sure the outside of the magnesium ribbon is shiny(
*. 'ith what element does the magnesium combine when it is heated(
+. 'hy must you reheat the crucible repeatedly until the last two masses agree
within 0.0*g(
,. "f you were to combine !0g of oxygen with some hydrogen# how much hydrogen
would you need to completely use up all the oxygen(
-. .uppose a compound of sodium and chlorine is formed in the ratio of 1.,+g of
chlorine for each gram of sodium. How much sodium would you need to
completely react with +,.0g of chlorine(
Materials:
Crucible and Lid 'ire /au0e w1 Ceramic Center $agnesium 2ibbon
Crucible Tongs .afety /oggles Distilled 'ater 3ottle
Centigram 3alance 3unsen 3urner and .tri)er 4ipe .tem Triangle
2ing .tand and 2ing
Procedure:
1. 4ut on your goggles. Hot crucibles and magnesium can cause burns# so use with
caution. Handle hot crucibles with tongs and place the hot crucible on the wire
gau0e to cool.
2. %btain a clean and completely dry crucible and co&er. 5ind the mass of the
crucible and co&er and record it on the data table.
*. %btain a piece of magnesium from your instructor and roll the magnesium into a
loose coil and place it in the crucible. 5ind the mass of the crucible# co&er# and
magnesium. 2ecord it on the data table.
+. .et up the ring stand# ring# burner# and pipe stem triangle. 4lace the crucible on
the pipe stem triangle. 3egin heating the crucible gradually with the lid
completely on. Heat slowly by mo&ing the flame around underneath the crucible.
2emo&e the heat temporarily if a large amount of smo)e comes out of the
crucible.
,. 6fter about four minutes of direct heating with no smo)e# remo&e the lid slightly.
Heat the crucible for four more minutes. 5inally# remo&e the lid completely and
heat strongly for four more minutes.
-. Turn off the burner and put the lid bac) on the crucible. 6llow the crucible and
co&er to cool to a temperature low enough so that you can touch the crucible. 5ind
the mass of the crucible# contents# and co&er. 6dd ten drops of distilled water.
.mell cautiously# note any odor. 4ut the crucible bac) on the ring7stand setup and
heat again for four minutes with the lid on. 6llow to cool again.
8. 5ind the mass of the crucible# co&er# and product. 2ecord it on the 2eport .heet.
!. "f enough time remains# reheat the crucible for four minutes# allow it to cool# and
again find the mass. "f this mass differs by more than 0.0*g from the mass you
found in .tep !# repeat this procedure for a second trial.
9. "f enough time remains# repeat the whole procedure for a second trial.
10. Clean and put away all of the materials.
11. 'ash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Data and Observations:
$ass of Crucible and Co&er
$ass of crucible# co&er# : $g
$ass of crucible# co&er# : product ;1
st
<
$ass of crucible# co&er# : product ;2nd<
$ass of crucible# co&er# : product ;*rd<
alculations: !"O# #OR$
1. Calculate the mass of the $g that reacted.
2. Calculate the mass of the magnesium oxide that was produced.
*. Calculate the mass of oxygen that reacted.
+. Calculate the ratio of the mass of magnesium to the mass of oxygen.
,. The accepted ratio for the mass of magnesium to oxygen is 1.,21. Calculate your
percent error.
$ass of $agnesium reacted.
$ass of $agnesium %xide produced.
$ass of %xygen reacted.
2atio of $agnesium to %xygen.
4ercent =rror
Post-Lab Discussion:
The magnesium metal is an element that combines with another element# oxygen gas# to
form the compound magnesium oxide. The ratio of the mass of magnesium oxide to the
mass of magnesium should be constant for all of your trials# regardless of the mass of the
magnesium that you started with.
The strong heating insured that all of the magnesium reacted with the oxygen in
the air to form magnesium oxide. .ince some magnesium nitride ;magnesium > nitrogen<
could ha&e formed# the addition of water and subse?uent heating were done to remo&e
that product from the crucible.
"n order to calculate the ratio# you must first find the masses of magnesium oxide
alone and of magnesium alone by subtracting the mass of the crucible from the masses
that you recorded. The ratio is then calculated by
Ratio % Mass of Magnesiu& O'ide ( Mass of Magnesiu&
)nal*sis:
1. How would your results be affected if all of the magnesium did not react(
2. @sing your ratio# determine the formula of magnesium oxide.
*. @se the accepted ratio to determine the mass of magnesium that would combine
with exactly 1-.0g of oxygen.
+. @sing the accepted ratio of magnesium to oxygen# determine the formula mass of
one mole of magnesium oxide.
,. Calculate the percent composition of magnesium and oxygen in one mole of
magnesium oxide.
-. .uppose you tried to combine +2g of $g with +,g of oxygen.
a. 'hich of the substances would ha&e some left after the reaction(
b. How much magnesium oxide would be formed(
onclusion:
'hen 1.0lb of gasoline is burned in an automobile# approximately *lbs of carbon dioxide
is gi&en off. Carbon dioxide is one of the gases contributing to global warming. 'hat
information from this experiment helps to explain how one pound of gasoline can gi&e
off approximately * times as much C%2(