Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide Introduction Compounds are pure substances a combination two or more elements that form a new compound Chemical Formula a combination of symbols of the various elements that make up the compound Formula unit the smallest collection of atoms that provides information on a compound the identity of the atoms the relative number of each type of atom

Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide Law of Definite or Constant Composition A pure compound contains 2 or more atoms in definite proportions No matter what its source, a specific compound is composed of the same elements in the same mass fraction or ratio Every chemical compound has a formula that describes the type and number of different atoms in the compound Analysis gives you the composition of AB2C mass percentage mass % A = (mass of A in the whole amount/mass of the whole amount) x 100% molar composition or mole percent mole % of A = (moles of A/total number of moles) x 100%

Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide Question What is a mole and what is a molar mass? What are the molar masses of magnesium and atomic oxygen? Answer A mole is the quantity of a substance that contains as many molecules or formula units as the number of atoms in exactly 12 g of carbon-12 A molar mass is the mass of one mole The molar masses of magnesium and oxygen are 24.305 g and 15.9994 g, respectively

Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide Mole Chemical counting unit 1 atom Al = 26.98 amu 1 mol Al = 26.98 g 1 atom O = 16.00 amu 1 mol O = 16.00 g 1 molecule O2 = 32 amu 1 mol O2 = 32.00 g 1 atom Na = 22.99 amu 1 mol Na = 22.99 g 1 atom Cl = 35.45 amu 1 mol Cl = 35.45 g 1 molecule Cl2 = 70.90 amu 1 mol Cl2 = 70.90 g 1 formula unit NaCl = 58.45 amu 1 mol NaCl = 58.45 g

Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide Purpose Observe the reaction of magnesium with oxygen Determine the empirical formula of the product, magnesium oxide Background Oxygen (O2) is very reactive when heated Many elements react with oxygen, forming an “oxide” Nitrogen (N2) is very unreactive, even at high temperature Only very active metals react with N2, forming a “nitride” Water (H2O) and nitrides react to form “hydroxides” (compounds of a metal and a hydroxide, OH) and ammonia, NH3. Heating the hydroxide converts it to an oxide and water vapor

Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide Background Final product is magnesium oxide Primary reaction Reaction between Mg and O2  MgO Secondary reaction - Reaction between Mg and N2  Mg3N2 - Mg3N2 and water (H2O) form Mg(OH)2 - Heating Mg(OH)2 results in formation of MgO and H2O All Mg is now converted to MgO Mass of O2 that reacted with Mg can be determined from the original mass of Mg and the mass of the final product, MgO Laws of conservation of mass and number of moles are used to calculate this amount

Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide Experimental Procedure Prepare Wash and dry a crucible with lid Put the crucible on a clay triangle over a Bunsen burner and heat for about 3 min at high heat Cool for 5-10 min (why?) and weigh the crucible with lid Repeat heating, cooling and weighing until 2 consecutive weights are within 0.001 g of each other Record in your lab notebook in 4 decimals Weigh out about 0.2 g Mg ribbon (record weight) Fold Mg ribbon loosely (not too tight!) and put in crucible Weigh crucible, Mg ribbon and lid. Record weight

Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide Experimental Procedure Heating Put crucible, Mg ribbon and lid on clay triangle. Cover crucible with lid. “Brush” bottom for 2-3 min with hot flame Put burner under crucible and heat for 3 more min in the hottest part of the flame Lift lid slightly with tongs to allow air to enter Don’t open too far, because Mg will catch fire Metal should glow bright-red Repeat approximately every 3-5 min until no metal is visible anymore all is converted to magnesium oxide powder no glowing is visible anymore Allow crucible to cool

Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide Experimental Procedure Analysis Remove lid, put few drops of H2O in the crucible What do you smell? Report!! Cover the crucible. Brush the crucible again with the flame until the contents is dry Heat on a hot flame for 8-10 min (why?) Allow crucible to cool down to the point where it is close to room temperature you feel no heat when you bring your finger within ½ in of the crucible Weigh the crucible + content + lid. Record the weight Heat again for 3 min Cool crucible and obtain weight; record weight in 4 decimals Repeat until weight is constant 2 consecutive weightings within 0.001 g of each other

Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide Experimental Procedure Results (1) Mass of empty crucible + lid (g, 4 decimals) ______________ ______________ (2) Average mass of empty crucible + lid (g) ______________ (3) Mass of crucible, Mg, and lid (g) ______________ (4) Mass of Mg [= (3) – (2)] (g) ______________ After heating (5) Mass of crucible, lid and oxide (g) ______________ (6) Average mass (g) ______________ (7) Average mass of empty crucible + lid [=(2)] (g) ______________ (8) Mass of oxide (g) ______________

Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide Experimental Procedure Calculations Mass of O = mass of MgO – mass of Mg __________ Moles of Mg = mass of Mg/molar mass of Mg __________ Moles of O = mass of O/molar mass of O __________ Molar ratio of Mg:O = __________ Empirical formula for magnesium oxide =

Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide Experimental Procedure Balanced equations Mg with molecular oxygen Mg + O2  Mg with molecular nitrogen Mg + N2  Magnesium nitride with water MgyNz + H2O Mg(OH)x Heating magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH)X + heat  Mg-oxide + H2O

Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide Chemicals Post-Lab Assignment Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide Fill in the Results sheet (p. 65) Show all your calculations. Calculations need to be complete and logically organized and written Analysis Determine the empirical formula for the oxide of magnesium. Think carefully about the precision of the masses that you determined on the electronic balance. How many significant figures are justified in your answer? Answer questions 1 and 2 on Post-Lab Assignments sheet

Exp 3A: The Empirical Formula of an Oxide Chemicals Due Next Week Exp. 3A: Data/results Sheet Post-lab Questions Exp. 3B: Hydrates and their Thermal Decomposition Prelab assignments 1 - 4 Read and understand Goal of experiment Procedure Properties of BaCl2, CrCl3, CoCl2, NiSO4, CuSO4 and the hydrates mentioned in the lab text