The labs purpose is to determine magnesium oxides percent yield. In this lab we will create a chemical reaction when two solutions are mixed. Those two solutions are magnesium and oxygen in the reaction Mg + O2 MgO. After these two solutions are mixed, magnesium oxide is produced. The percent yield of magnesium oxide is calculated and reported in this activity. The percent yield is dependent variable and the product amounts is the independent variable in this experiment. Stoichiometry is a method used to determine the most desired results that can occur within a lab (Khan). This is determined by balancing the chemical equation to calculate the amount of reactant and product there are. Ratios are used from balancing equations in order to find the amount of reactants needed for the reaction. These ratios are called the mole ratio, the stoichiometric ratio, or the stoichiometric factor. The mole ratio can be used as a conversion factor between different quantities. The first step to a stoichiometry problem is to balance the equation. Next, convert the known reactant amount to moles. Then, find the moles of the reactant using the mole ratios. Lastly, convert moles to mass. Doing this will give you your limiting and excess amounts (Khan). …show more content…
When all of the limiting reactant is consumed the reaction will stop. The excess reactant is what remains after all of the limiting reactant has been completely consumed. Excess reactant stops due to the absence of anything left to react with (Stoichiometry…). Limiting reactants are completely used in the reaction leaving nothing behind (Theoretical..). However, excess reactants have leftover product once the reaction is completed