Determination of the Atomic
Weight of Magnesium
CHEM 101
John Smith
March 25, 2014
Date Performed: January 1, 2012
Partners: James Smith
Mary Smith
Instructor: Professor Smith
1 Objective
To determine the atomic weight of magnesium via its reaction with oxygen and
to study the stoichiometry of the reaction (as defined in 1.1):
2 Mg + O2 −−→ 2 MgO
1.1 Definitions
Stoichiometry The relationship between the relative quantities of substances
taking part in a reaction or forming a compound, typically a ratio of whole
integers.
Atomic mass The mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic
mass units. It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and
neutrons in the atom (the mass number) or to the average number allowing
for the relative abundances of different isotopes.
2 Experimental Data
Mass of empty crucible 7.28 g
Mass of crucible and magnesium before heating 8.59 g
Mass of crucible and magnesium oxide after heating 9.46 g
Balance used #4
Magnesium from sample bottle #1
1
3 Sample Calculation
Mass of magnesium metal = 8.59 g - 7.28 g
= 1.31 g
Mass of magnesium oxide = 9.46 g - 7.28 g
= 2.18 g
Mass of oxygen = 2.18 g - 1.31 g
= 0.87 g
Because of this reaction, the required ratio is the atomic weight of magnesium:
16.00 g of oxygen as experimental mass of Mg: experimental mass of oxygen
x 16 −1
or 1.31 = 0.87 from which, MMg = 16.00 × 1.310.87 = 24.1 = 24 g mol (to two
significant figures).
4 Results and Conclusions
The atomic weight of magnesium is concluded to be 24 g mol−1 , as determined
by the stoichiometry of its chemical combination with oxygen. This result is in
agreement with the accepted value.
Figure 1: Figure caption.
5 Discussion of Experimental Uncertainty
The accepted value (periodic table) is 24.3 g mol−1 Smith and Jones (2012).
The percentage discrepancy between the accepted value and the result obtained
here is 1.3%. Because only a single measurement was made, it is not possible
to calculate an estimated standard deviation.
The most obvious source of experimental uncertainty is the limited precision of
the balance. Other potential sources of experimental uncertainty are: the reac-
tion might not be complete; if not enough time was allowed for total oxidation,
less than complete oxidation of the magnesium might have, in part, reacted
with nitrogen in the air (incorrect reaction); the magnesium oxide might have
2
absorbed water from the air, and thus weigh “too much.” Because the result
obtained is close to the accepted value it is possible that some of these experi-
mental uncertainties have fortuitously cancelled one another.
6 Answers to Definitions
a. The atomic weight of an element is the relative weight of one of its atoms
compared to C-12 with a weight of 12.0000000. . ., hydrogen with a weight
of 1.008, to oxygen with a weight of 16.00. Atomic weight is also the
average weight of all the atoms of that element as they occur in nature.
b. The units of atomic weight are two-fold, with an identical numerical value.
They are g/mole of atoms (or just g/mol) or amu/atom.
c. Percentage discrepancy between an accepted (literature) value and an ex-
perimental value is
experimental result − accepted result
accepted result
References
Smith, J. M. and Jones, A. B. (2012). Chemistry. Publisher, 7th edition.
