An analyst is preparing a pure sample of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate crystals (MgSO4⋅7H2O\text{MgSO}_4\cdot7\text{H}_2\text{O}MgSO4⋅7H2O) by reacting excess magnesium oxide powder with a measured volume of dilute sulfuric acid.
After filtering off the unreacted solid, crystallising the filtrate, and drying the collected crystals, the analyst finds that the actual mass of the crystals obtained is greater than the calculated maximum theoretical yield.
Suggest one chemical reason, other than weighing errors, why the recorded actual yield of the crystals was greater than the theoretical yield.
Practise Edexcel GCSE Chemistry Acids with exam-style questions for Foundation and Higher tier. 100 questions, matched to the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry (1CH0) specification and written in Paper 1 and Paper 2 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.