Magnesium Lab

Mr. Bartelt’s chemistry class

Introduction: We have been studying chemical formulas and performing conversions all
week. Today, we’re going to the lab to put what we’ve learned into practice. Today
we’re going to burn/cook magnesium metal and analyze the ashes. Answer the following
questions in your notes notebook before we go to lab. Be prepared to transfer this
information into your lab notebook.

1) What effect will the burning/cooking of magnesium have on the mass of the
magnesium? Will its mass be reduced, or increased?

2) Defend your answer above.

Procedure:

1) Set up a ring stand with a clay triangle and a CLEAN crucible.

2) Record the mass of the crucible
3) Measure 15 cm of a magnesium strip and place it in the crucible.
4) Record the mass of the crucible with the magnesium in it.
5) Place you crucible (with the magnesium in it) in the clay triangle and the lid on
the crucible.
6) Use your Bunsen burner to heat the crucible.
7) Once all your magnesium has reacted, put a drop or two of distilled water in your
crucible. It should be sufficiently hot to evaporate all the water.
8) Allow your crucible to cool and determine the mass after the reaction.
9) Record your data, clean the crucible, and repeat steps 1-8

Data/Results:

Mass of Mass of Mg Mass after Mass Mg Mass of product Change

crucible and crucible reaction Before reaction after reaction in mass
Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3
(optional)

Questions to be addressed in the conclusion:

1) Explain the change in mass observed in this experiment.
2) Review your pre lab. Was your prediction correct, was the data surprising? Explain.
3) What product was formed?