Question

(a) A piece of magnesium with a mass of 5.867 g was heated in a crucible which was open to the air. After the magnesium had combusted and allowed to cool down the product was found to have a mass of 8.956 g.

i. Determine the empirical formula of the magnesium oxide formed.
ii. The actual empirical formula of magnesium oxide is MgO. Suggest three possible reasons why the value obtained in the experiment described above did not produce the correct formula.
iii. Evaluate the experiment procedures that are shown in the video
iv. Explain how you can improve the experiment procedures in the video to obtain more accurate and reliable data.

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Answer 1

Determine the empirical formula of the magnesium oxide formed.

ii. The actual empirical formula of magnesium oxide is MgO. Suggest three possible reasons why the value obtained in the experiment described above did not produce the correct formula.

iii. Evaluate the experiment procedures that are shown in the video

iv. Explain how you can improve the experiment procedures in the video to obtain more accurate and reliable data.