Determining relative atomic weights

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Heat a known mass of two metals to produce their oxides and determine their relative atomic masses.

Metals react in oxygen to form metal oxides:

metal + oxygen → metal oxide

In this experiment you will heat a known mass of two metals; magnesium ribbon and copper powder and determine the mass of each metal oxide produced. A comparison of the mass of the metal heated to the mass of metal oxide produced will allow the relative atomic mass of magnesium and copper to be determined.

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