Chemistry Laboratory 101: General and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Manual

Laboratory Procedure

Conservation of Mass and Definite Composition

Activity

Two of the fundamental principles on which the chemistry is based are the Laws of Conservation of Mass and Definite Composition. This activity is designed to study typical chemical systems in relation to these laws. The first system is a reaction between calcium chloride and sulfuric acid. The mass of the reactants and the products will be closely monitored. The second system will study the reaction between lead nitrate and potassium iodide. Lead ions, which are colorless and soluble, will react with a particular amount of lead ions. In this regard, how can the data gained from this experiment be explained? Apparatus/Materials: 50 mL vial with stopper 2 test tubes with stoppers or 210mL vials Triple beam balance 10 mL graduated cylinder Procedure: Chemicals: 10 mL sodium carbonate 3 mL calcium chloride 3 mL dilute sulfuric acid 12 mL lead (II) nitrate 12 mL potassium iodide

CAUTION: 1. Handle the chemicals with rubber gloves. 2. Perform the following steps at arms length distance.

I.

Conservation of Mass

Pour 10 mL of sodium carbonate solution into a 50 mL vial and stopper it. Pour 3 mL each calcium chloride and dilute sulfuric acid into two separate small test tubes 1, label and stopper both. Make sure that the exteriors of the containers are dry. Weigh all three containers simultaneously. Data 1. a. initial mass of 3-part chemical system

Remove this three-part chemical system from the balance and pour the calcium chloride solution into the sodium carbonate solution. Swirl to mix the solutions and note what
1

Two 10 mL vials may be used instead.

Natural Sciences Department, College of Science and Information Technology, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City, Philippines.

Chemistry Laboratory 101: General and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Manual

happens. Re-stopper all containers and weigh again simultaneously, including the empty container. Data 2. a. Data 1. b. observation after first mixing mass after first mixing

Again remove the system from the balance and add the dilute sulfuric acid solution into the mixture in the large vial. Do this carefully to avoid spattering. Note any evidence of a chemical change. Data 2. b. observation after second mixing

Stopper the vial again. Let stand for about 5 minutes. Remove the stopper and swirl the mixture for a while. Determine if the vial is not at room temperature by touching it with your wrist. If it is not, allow the system to return to room temperature. Re-stopper all containers and weigh again simultaneously. Data 1. c. II. mass after second mixing

Definite Composition

Take six small test tubes with the same interior diameter and add 2 mL of potassium iodide solution in each. Add 0.5 mL of lead (II) nitrate to the first tube, 1.0 mL to the second, 1.5 mL to the third, 2.0 mL to the fourth, 2.5 mL to the fifth, and 3.0 mL to the sixth. Be sure to mix them quickly and immediately. Set aside to allow precipitate to settle. Record the height of the precipitate in each test tube in centimeters. Tabulate your results, with three columns for the test tube number, the volume in mL of lead (II) nitrate used, and the height of precipitate in centimeter. Data 3. heights of precipitates in six test tubes

Graph the results using a special graphing paper2 and attach this to the data sheet. Mass is presupposed proportional to height. Data 4. graph of volume of lead (II) nitrate (in mL) vs. height of precipitate formed (in cm)

PROPER DISPOSAL: Dispose of waste mixtures into inorganic waste container and excess sulfuric acid into acid waste container.

Questions:
2

This type has smaller cells. Compared to the regular graphing paper, there are 25 more divisions per cell.

Natural Sciences Department, College of Science and Information Technology, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City, Philippines.

Chemistry Laboratory 101: General and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Manual

1. Suppose one of the reagents dissolves parts of the glass container forming unknown products. What effect would this have on the observations if the unknown products were solid? liquid? or gaseous? 2. How does this activity illustrate the Law of Conservation of Mass? 3. Would you expect to obtain the same results if you change the roles of lead (II) nitrate and potassium iodide in part two of the activity? 4. If the lead (II) nitrate used was just one half as concentrated but everything else the same, would the same kind of graph be acquired? 5. How is the graph interpreted in light of the Law of Definite Composition? Further Activity: Think about the following situations: 1. If the part one were performed on the moon, what changes would be noticed, if any? 2. If all matter has mass, why does an astronaut experience weightlessness in a satellite? Is it possible to perform this experiment while in orbit? Do a little theoretical3 experimentation on the following: 1. For part two, we presupposed mass to be proportional to height. Plan an experiment that would test this assumption. 2. Design an experiment that will show the effect of settling time on the height of the precipitate. Review Questions: 1. Why should all the containers and contents be weighed simultaneously? 2. Why should the mixture be mixed for a while after the last mixing? 3. Why is mass presupposed to be proportional to height? 4. Recall graphing. What should be plotted on the x and y axes? 5. What possible relationships may be established between the two variables of part two of the activity?

Theoretical experimentation, meaning testing done with thinking and reasoning only, without actual empirical (observational) experimentation. Natural Sciences Department, College of Science and Information Technology, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City, Philippines.

Chemistry Laboratory 101: General and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Manual

Group No.___ Chemistry Laboratory 101__ Members: 1. _____________________ 2. _____________________ 3. _____________________ 4. _____________________

Date Performed Instructors Initials

:___________ :___________

Data Sheet

Activity

Conservation of Mass and Definite Composition

Data: I. Conservation of Mass Initial mass of 3 part chemical system Mass of system after 1st mixing Mass of system after 2nd mixing Differences in the mass after 1st mixing Differences in the mass after 2nd mixing ______g ______g ______g ______g ______g

Observation after 1st mixing ____________________________________________________________ Observation after 2nd mixing ____________________________________________________________ II. Definite Composition Attach graph here.

Natural Sciences Department, College of Science and Information Technology, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City, Philippines.

Chemistry Laboratory 101: General and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Manual

Natural Sciences Department, College of Science and Information Technology, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City, Philippines.