Determining the relative atomic mass of magnesium
In association with Nuffield Foundation
Use this practical to determine the relative atomic mass of magnesium using its reaction with hydrochloric acid
In this experiment, learners react magnesium ribbon with dilute hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas. They then use the measured volume of hydrogen gas produced and the mass of magnesium to calculate the mass of magnesium required to produce one mole of hydrogen molecules. From this, learners can deduce the relative atomic mass of magnesium. The downloadable resources include two levels of student worksheet, teacher notes and lesson presentation slides.