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FINDING THE MOLAR RATIO OF

HYDROGEN FORMED TO
MAGNESIUM REACTED IN A SINGLE
REPLACEMENT REACTION LAB

Vivian Deng
Partnered with: Mo Aftisse, Brooks Borden
10/27/08

Abstract

The purpose of this lab is to determine the molar ratio of hydrogen formed when a piece of
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magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid (HCl) to form hydrogen gas. We measure the volume
of the hydrogen gas, and from the density of hydrogen, we can find the moles of hydrogen. This
calculation is then compared to the value that was predicted from the balanced equation.

Procedure – Description of Experiment

A sample of magnesium is rolled into a ball and wrapped in a copper wire. That wire is then
attached to a two-hole stopper. Next, we set up the apparatus, which contains an utiometer, a gas
measuring tube; 1000 mL beaker two-thirds filled with water; and ring stand with a fastened
ring. A solution of 6MHCl is poured into the
utiometer, followed by water. After it is filled, the
stopper is placed into the tube. With a finger over the
stopper to prevent any leaks of liquid or air through
either way, we invert the tube and immerse it into the
beaker, using the ring to hold it in place. Because of
this set up, the HCl solution will then have to work its
way down to what is now the bottom where the
magnesium is bound to begin the reaction. Once the
solution has reached the magnesium, the magnesium
reacts as it sends ripples through the water.

The piece of magnesium also creates some

bubbles around the copper wire. Those bubbles
are the actual hydrogen gas. Because the density
of hydrogen gas is lighter than the liquid
composition of MHCl solution and water, the
bubbles rise up to the top. The excess water and
solution is then leaked out from the two holes
made in the stopper. Without the two holes, the
pressure can be great enough in the tube to
actually explode.
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Data and Analysis

The mass of the 2.5 centimeter sample of magnesium is 0.040 grams.
There is about 5.0 mL of 6MHCl solution in the utiometer with the rest filled with water.

In the following data, we assume that the room temperature is 22°C, which is also 275 K.
When the bubbles cease to develop, it means that hydrogen is no longer to be evolved, which
also means that the sample of magnesium is used up. When that happens, we measure the
volume of the hydrogen gas, which is 2.42 × 104.

___When using the fact that 1.00 mols of hydrogen gas occupies 24.5 liters in our lab, we can
determine that there are 0.0016 mols of hydrogen gas and the mass of hydrogen formed is ___

The molar ratio of hydrogen to magnesium is 1 to 1 (or 1/1).

____In this class, we obtained more information as there are a total of four groups. In group 1,
the mass of the sample of magnesium is 0.054 g while the volume of hydrogen is 54.4 mL. In
group 2, the mass of the sample of magnesium is 0.049 grams while the volume of hydrogen is
48.2 mL. In group 3, the mass of the sample of magnesium is 0.038 grams while the volume of
hydrogen is 39.2 mL. In our group, the mass of the sample of the magnesium is 0.040 grams
while the volume of hydrogen is 38.8 mL. When we combine the group data, the class average is
0.181 grams while the volume of hydrogen is 180.6 mL. The class data is very close to the ratio
predicted from the balanced equation. The percent error for the class data is ____

____The shape of the graph should be ___

____The percent error is ________

In the class demo on the reaction of Calcium (Ca) to produce hydrogen, Calcium is clearly
mmore active and Magnesium (Mg). Calcium quicky dissolved once it made contact with the
liquid or solution whereas the magnesium took a longer time to dissolve in the water.
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Mg(s) + 2HCl(Aq) MgCl2(Aq) + H2(g)

This is the equation in which this lab demonstrates – when magnesium (Mg(s)) reacts with
hydrochloric acid (2HCl(Aq)), hydrogen is generated or produced along with magnesium chloride,
which is invisible to the human eye when it is dissolved in water.