A 9.6gram piece of clean magnesium burned completely in 6.4gram of pure oxygen and the product was slowed to cool to room temperature and pressure r.t.p determine the reaction mole ratio and hence the formula of the oxide
To determine the reaction mole ratio and the formula of the oxide, we first need to find the moles of magnesium and oxygen reacted.
The moles of magnesium can be calculated using its molar mass:
Molar mass of magnesium = 24.31 g/mol
Moles of magnesium = mass of magnesium / molar mass of magnesium
= 9.6 g / 24.31 g/mol
= 0.3948 mol
The moles of oxygen can be calculated similarly:
Molar mass of oxygen = 16.00 g/mol
Moles of oxygen = mass of oxygen / molar mass of oxygen
= 6.4 g / 16.00 g/mol
= 0.400 mol
The reaction mole ratio can be calculated by dividing the moles of each element by the smaller mole value:
Mole ratio of magnesium to oxygen = moles of magnesium / moles of oxygen
= 0.3948 mol / 0.400 mol
= 0.987
Since the mole ratio is close to 1, it suggests a 1:1 mole ratio between magnesium and oxygen.
Therefore, the empirical formula of the oxide is MgO, indicating that magnesium and oxygen combine in a 1:1 ratio to form magnesium oxide.