1407bH26827

Chin Yi Heng

IBDP Practical: SL Determining the Empirical Formula of Magnesium Chloride

DATA COLLECTION:
Table of Raw Data

Trial

Mass of 150 cm3

beaker (

1
2
3

0.01 g)

Mass of
evaporating dish (
0.01 g)

74.73
66.26
69.79

53.35
54.17
53.66

Mass of
magnesium
strip (
0.01 g)
0.27
0.25
0.23

Mass of 150cm3
beaker and
magnesium chloride (
0.01 g)
76.07
67.32
71.08

Table of Qualitative Data

Trial

1, 2, 3

Before
experiment

Magnesium strip is shiny after being sanded its surface. Hydrochloric

acid is colorless.

During
experiment

Gas bubbles appear and a fizzy sound can be heard when hydrochloric
acid (HCl) is added into the beaker containing magnesium strip. Vapor is
released during the reaction as the temperature of the mixture is
increasing. When magnesium strip is no longer visible in the beaker, the
solution is heated. During heating, the solution boils and evaporates
completely.

After
experiment

White powder is formed at the base of the beaker.

DATA PROCESSING AND CALCULATIONS:

Mass of magnesium chloride
Trial 1
Mass of magnesium chloride = Mass of beaker and magnesium chloride Mass of beaker
Mass of magnesium chloride = (76.07 74.73)g (0.01 + 0.01)g
Mass of magnesium chloride = 1.34 0.02g
Trial 2

1407bH26827

Chin Yi Heng

Mass of magnesium chloride = Mass of beaker and magnesium chloride Mass of beaker
Mass of magnesium chloride = (71.08 66.26)g (0.01 + 0.01)g
Mass of magnesium chloride = 1.06 0.02g

Trial 3
Mass of magnesium chloride = Mass of beaker and magnesium chloride Mass of beaker
Mass of magnesium chloride = (71.08 69.79)g (0.01 + 0.01)g
Mass of magnesium chloride = 1.29 0.02g

Mass of chlorine
Trial 1
Mass of chlorine = Mass of magnesium chloride Mass of magnesium
Mass of chlorine = (1.34 0.27)g (0.02 + 0.01)g
Mass of chlorine = 1.07 0.03g
Trial 2
Mass of chlorine = Mass of magnesium chloride Mass of magnesium
Mass of chlorine = (1.06 0.25)g (0.02 + 0.01)g
Mass of chlorine = 0.81 0.03g

Trial 3
Mass of chlorine = Mass of magnesium chloride Mass of magnesium
Mass of chlorine = (1.29 0.23)g (0.02 + 0.01)g
Mass of chlorine = 1.06 0.03g

Table of empirical formula of Magnesium (Mg) and Chlorine (Cl)

1407bH26827

Chin Yi Heng

Trial 1
Mass
Number of Moles,
n
Ratio
Empirical Formula

Mg
0.27
0.27
24.31
= 0.01
1

Cl
1.07
1.07
35.5
= 0.03
3
MgCl3

Trial 2
Mg
0.25
0.25
24.31
= 0.01
1

Cl
0.81
0.81
35.5
= 0.02
2
MgCl2

Trial 3
Mg
0.23
0.27
24.31
= 0.01
1

Cl
1.06
1.06
35.5
= 0.03
3
MgCl3

The true empirical formula of magnesium chloride is MgCl2, which is accurate for Trial 2 of this
experiment but not for Trial 1 and Trial 3 that show the empirical formula of magnesium chloride
is MgCl3.