Magnesium Synthesis

The central purpose of this experiment was to determine the experimental empirical formula of an oxide of magnesium by performing a synthesis reaction. It was hypothesized that the formula that was derived from the recorded data would be identical to the theoretical empirical formula. After performing calculations with the data that had been collected within the duration of the experiment, it was deduced that the empirical formula of the product generated by the synthesis reaction was Mg5O6. Since the calculated formula did not match the postulated formula, MgO, the inceptive hypothesis was confuted. There was a large discrepancy in the results of students who replicated this experiment, the variation in data possibly having been evoked by the dissimilarity in

However, the formula that was ascertained from the experimental data had been Mg5O6. It was anticipated that the experimental and theoretical empirical formulas would have been identical; since this was not the case, the hypothesis was nullified. There are various possible factors that might have induced this result. For instance, since there was not any equipment available in order to control the amount of oxygen that came into contact with the magnesium ribbon, their masses were not regulated into specific proportions. Also, even though human efforts were made to visibly observe the magnesium ribbon, it was extremely difficult to detect the exact time when the magnesium had been completely reduced to ash. As a result, slight time measurement errors might have occurred that consequentially impaired the results. These errors could be avoided in future repetitions of this experiment by curbing the quantity of oxygen that is combined with the magnesium, as well as keeping the lid of the crucible open at all times, so as to continuously observe the substance inside, without threatening to potentially subvert any other