1.

Magnesium ribbon is cleaned with sandpaper to remove the

oxide layer on its surface. Magnesium is a reactive metal. It
can reacts easily with oxygen in the air to form magnesium
oxide
2. The white fumes is magnesium oxide
3. a) The crucible is then quickly covered with its lid to prevent
the white fumes of MgO from escaping.
b) The lid is removed at intervals to allow oxygen to enter
the crucible and react with magnesium.
c) Heating, cooling and weighing are repeated until a
constant mass is obtained to ensure that the magnesium
ribbon reacts completely with oxygen gas to form
magnesium oxide.
4. To ensure that the mass of magnesium oxide produced is
accurate

Data and observation

Description
Combustion tube +
porcelain dish
Combustion tube +
porcelain dish +
copper(II) oxide
Combustion tube +
porcelain dish +
copper(II)
Copper
Oxygen

Mass(g)
55.31
63.31

61.71

61.71 55.31 = 6.4

63.31- 61.71 = 1.6

Discussion 3.4
1. Because copper(II) oxide are less reactive than hydrogen in the
reactivity series of metals towards oxygen such as lead(II) oxide and iron
(II) chloride
2. By using the lighted wooden splinter to test the sample of the gas. If the
gass burns quietly wiyhout a pop sound, then this means that hydrogen
gas has filled the apparatus ( All the air has been totally removed from the
combustion tube)
3. This precaution is taken because a mixture of hydrogen and air can
cause an explosion when lighted.
4. to ensure the air does not enter the combustion tube and mix with
hydrogen because it will cause an explosion
5. to ensure that all of the copper(II) oxide has been reduced to copper
6

6. Empirical formulae for copper(II)oxide

ELEMENT
1. Mass (g)
2. Number of
moles

Cu
6.4
6.4
64
= 0.1

O
1.6
1.6
16
= 0.1

3. Simplest
ratio of mole

0.1
0.1
=1

0.1
0.1
=1

4. Empirical
formula

CuO

QUIZ
1. How to ensure that the magnesium reacts completely with oxygen to
produce magnesium oxide?
2. How to ensure that the copper(II)oxide were reduced completely to
form copper?
By repeating heating, cooling and weighing process until constant mass is obtained

3. State the function of anhydrous calcium chloride in determine the

empirical formula of copper(II)oxide.
As drying agent / to dried the hydrogen gas

4. Why do you need to open lid of crucibles at intervals during heating

the magnesium ribbon?
5. What is the name of white fumes formed in the experiment 3.5?