Nurturing the Passion to Care

FOUNDATION STUDIES PROGRAMME

CHEMISTRY LABORATORY 1

(FC 1110)

EXPERIMENT 5: DECOMPOSING BAKING SODA

Title Allocated Marks Marks

Objective

Introduction / Theory

Apparatus 15

Materials

Procedure

Results

Calculations 25

Discussion

Precautionary safety

Conclusions 5

References

Lab Skill 5

TOTAL 50

Prepared by:

Name : Fatin Izzati Binti Adzmi

Matriculation number : FD 0907-1075

Group : 4E

Date of Experiment : 14th October 2009

Checked by :
Objective

1. To determine the percent yield of sodium carbonate from a decomposition reaction

2. To practice proficiency in decomposing a compound and collecting a gas over water

Introduction

One of the most appetizing smells in the world might be that of freshly baked caked
and muffins. In order to make such tasty morsels light and fluffy, the substance known as
sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) must be included in the recipe. Something we could not do
very well without in our kitchens is Baking soda. Baking soda is a baking aid that helps
dough to rise, i.e. give more volume to dough to make it ‚lighter’. This works because baking
soda releases gases that help the dough to rise. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda, as it is
more commonly named) is the substance that causes many baked goods to rise. This rising
action occurs because when strongly heated in the oven, baking soda decomposes
producing one or more gasses. The gases become trapped within the mixture to form the
“air pockets” which provide the fluffy mixture. Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen
carbonate is the chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3. Sodium bicarbonate is a
white solid that is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slight alkaline taste
resembling that of washing soda (sodium carbonate). It is a component of the mineral
matron and is found dissolved in many mineral springs. The natural mineral form is known
as anchorite. It is also produced artificially.

Since it has long been known and is widely used, the salt has many related names
such as baking soda, bread soda, cooking soda, bicarbonate of soda. Colloquially, its name
is shortened to sodium bicarb, bicarb soda, or simply bicarb. The word saleratus, from Latin
sal æratus meaning "aerated salt", was widely used in the 19th century for both sodium
bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate. The term has now fallen out of common usage.

Stoichiometry is the relationship to get the amount of product from the amount of
reactant in a balance chemical equation. Theoretically predict the mass of products from the
given mass of a reactant. However, you have also learned from your lab experience, that
often the amount of product obtained in an actual experiment is more or less than the
amount that should have been obtained. This happens because the design and/or the
techniques used in the experiment are not perfect.

The theoretical yield of a given product is the maximum amount of product that could be
obtained in a given experiment based on the amount or reactants used. In other words, the
theoretical yield is the calculated yield predicted by stoichiometry.
The actual yield is the amount of product actually obtained in a given experiment. Normally,
it is obtained by isolating the product of the reaction and weighing it.

The percent yield is a measure of the efficiency of the reaction and is defined as:

Actual experimental yield% yield = (100) theoretical yield

“Actual yields” that is greater than “theoretical yields” usually imply an impure product. If the
actual yield is less than the theoretical yield, it is usually because of incomplete reaction or
side reactions or loss of product in one of the steps in the experiment.

Apparatus

Gas collection apparatus (Figure 5.1), 16 x 150 mm test tube, 1000-mL Florence flask, 1000-
mL beaker

Materials

Baking soda, solid sodium hydrogen carbonates (NaHCO3)

Procedure
1. A 16 x 150 mm dry test tube is weighted on the balance, and the mass is recorded.
1-2 g of baking soda, NaHCO3, is added and reweigh accurately.
2. The apparatus is set up as shown in Figure 5.1. The Florence flask is filled to the
neck with tap water, and the gas collection apparatus is inserted. The small rubber
stopper is inserted into the test tube as shown.
3. The test tube is heating gently. The water being displace into the beaker is observed
as carbon dioxide gas is produced. As the water level in the beaker increases, the
test tube is continuing heating with a gentle flame. After the water level remains
constant for a couple of minutes, discontinue heating and the test tube is allowed to
cool for 10 minutes.
4. The test tube containing the sodium carbonate residue is reweighted. The mass of
Na2CO3 is found by subtracting the mass of the test tube and residue.
5. The theoretical yield of sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, from the mass of pure baking
soda that was heated is calculated. The percent yield of sodium carbonate is
calculated.
Result
Trial 1 Trial 2

mass of test 34.90g 34.53 g

tube

mass of test 37.20 g 36.50 g

tube + NaHCO3
(before heating)

mass of 2.30 g 1.97 g

NaHCO3

mass of test 36.51 g 35.52 g

tube + Na2CO3
(after heating)

mass of Na2CO3 1.61 g 0.99 g

(actual yield)

Theoretical (2.30g NaHCO3 ) (1 mol (1.97g NaHCO3 ) (1 mol

yield Na2CO3 NaHCO3/84 g) (1 mol Na2CO3 /2 NaHCO3/84 g) (1 mol Na2CO3 /2 mol
mol NaHCO3)(105.98g Na2CO3/ 1 NaHCO3)(105.98g Na2CO3/ 1 mol
mol Na2CO3 ) Na2CO3 )

=1.45 g =1.24g

Percentage (1.61 g/1.45g)(100) (0.99g/1.24g)(100)

yield
=111.03% =79.84%

Average yield (111.03% + 79.84%) /2

95.44%
Discussion
Stoichiometry is used to find the actual theoretical amount of yield. In this
experiment, when the baking soda o sodium bicarbonate is heated, it produces sodium
carbonate, steam and carbon dioxide.
2NaHCO3(s) → Na2CO3(s) + CO2 (g) + H2O (g)

2 mol of NaHCO3 produce 1 mol of Na2CO3. From the given mass of sodium bicarbonate, the
mass of sodium carbonate is calculated.
The mass of yield is obtained by subtracted the mass of test tube and sodium
carbonate with the mass of test tube only. Then, the mass of yield which is the mass of
sodium carbonate obtained divided by the theoretical mass calculated and times hundred to
get the percentage yield. In the first trial, the percentage yield is 111.03% while the second
trial is 79.84%. The average percentage is 95.44%. The range of best percentage yield is
80% to 100%. The percentage yield obtained from this experiment is acceptable.

The major error of this experiment is the decomposition of the baking soda is not
complete. Thus, there is possibility of getting percentage error more than 100%. Do not
cooling the test tube and weighting it in hot condition is also the sources of the error in this
experiment. All the moisture in the test tube needs to be eliminating too.

Conclusion
The percentage of yield obtained from this experiment is 95.44%.

Precautionary steps

1. Heating the test tube to red heat is avoided.

2. The test tube is not allowed to be wash with cold water when it is hot.
3. Water is not allowed to be used to cold the test tube.
Reference

“EXPERIMENT - DECOMPOSITION OF BAKING SODA” retrieved 17th October 2009 from

http://emp.byui.edu/cullenj/Chem%20105/decomposition%20of%20baking%20soda.pdf

Wikipedia “sodium bicarbonate” retrieved 17th October 2009 from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_bicarbonate

“Stochiometry: empirical formula” retrieved 9th October 2009 from

http://www.chem.tamu.edu/class/majors/tutorialnotefiles/empirical.htm