PLANNING OF EXPERIMENT

TO DETERMINE THE EMPIRICAL FORMULA

Magnesium Oxide

Calculation:

Mg O

Mass (g) y-x z-y

No. of mole (mol) (y-x)/24 (z-y)/16

Ratio 1 1

Aim:
To determine the empirical formula of magnesium oxide Empirical formula : MgO

Apparatus: Discussion:
Tripod stand, crucible and lid, pipe-clay triangle, Bunsen
burner 1. Why is the magnesium ribbon cleaned with sand paper
before used?
Materials:
Magnesium ribbon, sandpaper

Procedure:
1. Clean (5-15 cm) magnesium ribbon with sandpaper 2. Name the white fumes produced.
and coil it
2. Weigh an empty crucible with its lid
3. Place the magnesium in the crucible and weigh again
4. Record the reading 3. State the reason:
5. Heat the crucible strongly without its lid a. Covering the crucible with its lid as soon as the
6. When magnesium start burning close the crucible. magnesium starts burning.
Open and close the lid very quickly interval time
7. When burning is complete, stop the heating
8. Let the crucible cool and then weigh it again
9. The heating, cooling and weighing process is repeated
until a constant mass is recorded b. Raising the lid of the crucible at intervals during
heating.
Tabulation of data:

Description Mass (g)

c. Heating, cooling & weighing are repeated until
Crucible + lid x
constant mass is obtained.
Crucible + lid + magnesium ribbon y

Crucible + lid + magnesium oxide z

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 Copper(II) Oxide

Calculation:

Cu O

Mass (g) z-x y-z

No. of mole (mol) (z-x)/64 (y-z)/16

Ratio 1 1
Aim:
To determine the empirical formula of copper(II) oxide Empirical formula : CuO

Procedure: Discussion:
1. Weigh and record the mass of the combustion tube
with the porcelain dish. 1. Why do we start off with copper(II) oxide instead of
2. Add a spatula of copper(II) oxide on the porcelain dish allowing copper to react with oxygen in the air in this
and weigh again. experiment?
3. Allow hydrogen gas to flow into the set of apparatus
for 5-10 minutes to remove all the air in the
combustion tube. 2. What is the function of anhydrous calcium chloride?
4. Test the gas to ensure all the air in the combustion
tube has been removed.
5. Burn the excess hydrogen gas that flow out from the 3. How do you test that the air in the tube has been
small hole of the combustion tube. removed completely?
6. Heat copper(II) oxide strongly. Turn off the flame when
copper(II) oxide turns brown completely.
7. Continue the flow of hydrogen until the set of
apparatus cool down. 4. Explain what will happen if we burn excess hydrogen
8. Weigh the mass of the combustion tube with its gas without removing the air completely in
content. combustion tube?
9. Repeat heating, cooling and weighing until a constant
mass is achieved.

Tabulation of data: 5. Why we need to continue the flow of hydrogen gas

after the heating of copper(II) oxide?
Description Mass (g)

Combustion tube + porcelain dish x

6. Why do we need to repeat heating, cooling and
Combustion tube + porcelain dish + weighing until constant mass is obtained?
y
copper(II) oxide
Combustion tube + porcelain dish +
z
copper

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