General Chemistry I Laboratory

Determining the Empirical Formula of a Compound STOI 0423

Lab Notes

Be sure and read the lab carefully before coming to complete the hands-on exercise.

In order to determine the empirical formula of the product, we must be able to determine
the ratio of the atoms in the chemical formula. We can accomplish this if we can
determine the mass of each element in the product. For example, if we do a reaction with
molecular hydrogen, H2(g), and molecular oxygen, O2(g), a substance containing only
hydrogen and oxygen will result, HxOy.

H2(g) + O2(g) -> HxOy

If we know that we start with 20.0 grams of the hydrogen gas and enough oxygen gas to
react with all of the hydrogen gas (excess), we know that the product contains 20.0 grams
of hydrogen atoms. Since the moles of a substance is the mass of substance divided by the
molar mass of the substance, we can determine the number of hydrogen atoms using the molar
mass of hydrogen, 1.008g/mol.

Mass of hydrogen in product = 20.0 grams

Number of moles of hydrogen in product = 20.00g/1.008g/mol = 19.84 moles

Next we need to know the mass of product made. Lets assume that we weighed the product
and found the mass to be 178.73 grams. Since the product only contains hydrogen and
oxygen, we can determine the mass of oxygen in the product by subtracting the mass of
hydrogen from the mas of product

178.73g - 20.0g = 158.73g of oxygen in the product

And the number of oxygen atoms can be determined as was done for hydrogen; divide the mass
of oxygen by the molar mass of oxygen

158.73g/16.00g/mol = 9.92 moles of oxygen in product

Now we can determine the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen simply by dividing the moles of
hydrogen by the moles of oxygen

19.84 mol H/9.92 mol O = 2.00/1.00 or 2:1

there are 2 hydrogens for every 1 oxygen,

the empirical formula is H2O1 or simply, H2O (since you don’t have to show 1's)

you will accomplish this for a metal oxide. This lab involves the production of magnesium
oxide from solid magnesium metal and excess atmospheric, molecular oxygen. This is
accomplished by a combustion reaction between the magnesium metal and molecular oxygen:

Mg(s) + O2(g) MgxOy(s)

We know that the product contains magnesium and oxygen, but we don’t know the ratio of
magnesium to oxygen (the empirical formula of the oxide) and that’s what the exercise is
designed to accomplish. The reaction is done over a very hot flame and there are hazards
and precautions.

(1) If the magnesium metal catches afire, cover the crucible using the lid and the
tongs.