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EMPIRICAL FORMULAS

Introduction

When atoms from various elements combine, a new compound is produced. Combustion or

oxidation reactions can be used to quantitatively identify a compound's formula from its

components. The Law of Conservation of Mass and the Law of Definite Proportions are two key

laws that regulate chemical reactions in chemistry (Wacowich-Sgarbi & Department, 2018). The

simplest whole-number ratio of the atoms involved in the make-up of a chemical is specified as

the empirical formula (Geer et al., 994). Chemists use an experimental approach called empirical

formula determination to determine the molecular formula. This experiment involves the

combination of magnesium (Mg) and chlorine (Cl) to form magnesium chloride. It is important

to keep in mind that the atom ratio in a compound must be in small whole numbers and cannot

be fractional (Formulae and equations - Revision 4 - GCSE Chemistry, 2019). The reaction

equation below shows the reaction between Mg and Cl2, with x and y indicating the unknown

subscripts in the product formula and unknown coefficients in the balanced equation,

respectively.

y
xMg (s )+ Cl ⟶ Mg ( x ) Cl y (aq )
2 2(g )
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Chlorine gas is very toxic and far too dangerous to use in a student laboratory. Instead, this lab

uses the reaction of magnesium metal with aqueous hydrochloric acid (HCl) to produce the same

magnesium and chlorine product, as shown in Reaction EF.2.

y
xMg (s )+ yHClaq ⟶ Mg ( x ) Cl y (aq )+ H
2 2 (g)

The magnesium chloride product is in an aqueous solution with some excess HCl once the Mg

metal has completely reacted with aqueous HCl. By gradually heating the solution until only the

dry product remains, both the water and the excess HCl may be removed. The masses of the

reactant and product are used to derive the empirical formula of the compound once it has been

synthesized. An analytical balance is used to measure the mass of the Mg metal (reactant). The

chlorine that is combined with the magnesium causes a difference in the mass of the magnesium

and the mass of the product formed. By finding the difference between the mass of the

magnesium reactant and the mass of the product, the mass of the chlorine that combined to

produce magnesium chloride can be determined.

Objectives

1. To determine the empirical formula of magnesium chloride by reacting magnesium with

hydrochloric acid.

2. To explain how the laws of conservation of mass and definite proportions apply to the

experimental procedure and calculations.

Procedure

The heating apparatus; a ring stand, wire gauze pad, and Bunsen burner were set up. 0.28 g of

magnesium ribbon was placed in the evaporating dish and the mass was measured together with

that of the watch glass. HCl was introduced in the evaporating dish until the reaction was

complete. After the end of the reaction, the contents were placed on the wire gauze and the
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contents were heated until the contents were dry. The evaporating dish and watch glass were left

to cool and the final mass was measured.

Results and Analysis.

Mass of evaporating dish and watch glass 64.166

Mass of evaporating dish, watch glass, and Mg 64.436

Mass of evaporating dish, watch glass, and product 65.200

Mass of Mg: 0.27 g

( 64.436−64.166 ) g=0.27 g

Mass of product

(65.200−64.166) g=0.764 g

Mass of Cl

(1.034−0.27)g=0.764 g

Moles of Mg

mass 0.27
moles= = =0.0112 moles
RMM 24.305

Moles of Cl

0.764
=0.022 moles
35.5

Empirical formula

Mg ( 0.011
0.011 )=1 ; Cl (
0.011 )
0.022
=2

Empirical formula MgCl 2

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Discussion.

The relative ratios of distinct atoms in a compound are determined by an empirical formula. The

ratios are also valid at the molar level (Determining Empirical and Molecular Formulas). From

the analysis, the masses of the reactants (Mg and HCl) were calculated to be 0.27g and 0.764 g

respectively. Using the molar masses of Mg 24.305g and that of Cl 35.5g from the periodic table

enabled the conversion of the mass of each element into moles. Dividing the mole value by the

small number of moles, in this case, that of Mg led to the determination of the coefficients that

become the subscripts in the chemical formula (Calculating Empirical Formulas for Compounds,

2016). The obtained empirical formula was MgCl 2.

Conclusion

The Law of Conservation of Mass and the Law of Definite Proportions are important laws that

regulate chemical reactions in chemistry. The empirical formula uses the simplest whole-number

ratio of the atoms involved in the reaction. Therefore, the empirical formula can be used to the

molecular formula of the compound such as that of MgCl2 as highlighted in the experiment.
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Works cited

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