Chemistry 101

Generating Hydrogen Gas

Objectives
To experimentally verify the molar volume of hydrogen gas at STP
To gain experience in collecting gas over water
Discussion
The molar volume of a gas is the volume occupied by one mole of gas. At STP (Standard
Temperature, 0C, and Pressure, 1 atm), all ideal gases have a molar volume of 22.4 L, regardless
of the identity of the gas. In this experiment, we will test this using hydrogen gas, generated by the
reaction of magnesium with hydrochloric acid:
Mg (s) + 2 HCl (aq) MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
As demonstrated in lecture, the reaction will be run underwater, and the gas will be captured using
an inverted graduated cylinder as the gas displaces water in the cylinder (see Figure 3 below). The
molar volume = VSTP/n, where n is the moles of hydrogen and VSTP is the volume of hydrogen at
STP. The volume of hydrogen gas generated by the reaction, Vlab, can simply be read from the
graduated cylinder. However, because the laboratory is not under STP conditions, you need to
correct Vlab to the volume it would occupy under STP conditions (VSTP):
From the ideal gas law,

P1V1 P2 V2
=
T1
T2

Assign one set of variables to be in the lab conditions, and the other to be STP:
Plab Vlab PSTP VSTP
=
Tlab
TSTP
VSTP =

Finally, solve for VSTP (our goal):

Plab Vlab TSTP

;
PSTP Tlab

So, in order to calculate VSTP, you need five quantities. TSTP and PSTP are easy they come from the
definition of STP, given above. The other three come from measurements:
Tlab will be measured from a thermometer.
Vlab will be the volume of hydrogen gas you read from the graduated cylinder, when the reaction is
complete.
Plab is not so straightforward. The gas collected in the top of the cylinder has a pressure equal to the
atmospheric pressure in the laboratory, which can be measured by a barometer in the lab. For your
lab session, this value will be written on the white-board you wont need to read the barometer
yourself. The problem is that the gas in the cylinder is not pure hydrogen gas, so we cant just
assign this to be Plab. Instead, we need to subtract out the pressure of the water vapor: PH2 = Ptot
PH2O. Ptot is the atmospheric pressure in the laboratory and equal to the pressure of the gas mixture
in the cylinder; PH2 is what we will call Plab. The partial pressure of water (PH2O) depends only on the
temperature, according to the following table:

Page 1

Table 1 Vapor Pressure of Water

Temperature oC
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23

Temperature oC
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

Pressure mm Hg
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

Pressure mm Hg
22
24
25
27
28
30
32

For example, if the pressure in the room is 757.6 mm Hg and you conduct the reaction at 23.0C:
Plab = PH2 = 757.6 21 mm Hg = 737 mm Hg (remember addn/sub rule for s.f.!)
At last, you can calculate VSTP and then the molar volume can be determined (VSTP/n). Moles of
hydrogen are calculated using the balanced chemical equation and the mass of magnesium. See
below for an example.
1 mol Mg 1 mol H 2
n H2 = 0.0791g Mg

= 0.00325 mol H 2
24.3050g Mg 1 mol Mg

Procedure
1. Work in groups of two students unless otherwise instructed.
2. Obtain a plastic trough, a large funnel, and a 100 mL graduated cylinder from the CHE101 lab
counter. Return this equipment clean when finished with the lab. Fill the trough about 2/3 full of
water. Place the cylinder horizontally into the water and allow it to fill completely with water.
There should be no air bubbles in the cylinder.
3. Weigh one Mg strip on an analytical balance, and record its mass on the data sheet.
4. Prepare the Mg for reacting by coiling it loosely. Wrap it up in a small, single ply square of
cheesecloth and close it all up with a piece of copper wire. The cheesecloth and copper will not
react with the acid they are used to weigh down and contain the Mg. This wrapping of the Mg
will be demonstrated in lecture.

Figure1 Mg strip lightly coiled, and wrapped and tied with a copper wire.
5. Measure about 50mL of 6 M HCl solution into a 100 mL beaker.
Page 2

6. Youre ready to conduct the reaction. Place the Mg packet underwater in the small, slanted
indentation at the bottom of the trough.

Figure 2 Use the indentation on the left of the trough

Stand the graduated cylinder upright (bottom up) so that the mouth is directly over the Mg. Trap
part of the cheesecloth under the graduated cylinder as shown in Figure 1. This keeps the
cheesecloth from floating up as it reacts. There should be no air bubbles in the cylinder. One student
will holds the graduated while the reaction occurs. Position the tip of the funnel so that the acid will
be delivered as directly as possible to the Mg. Begin by adding about 25 mL of HCl slowly through
the funnel. You should see bubbles immediately start to form, and these bubbles should be
completely captured within the graduated cylinder. When the reaction slows, add another portion of
acid, and repeat until all the Mg has disappeared and no more bubbles are being formed.

Figure 3 Gas Collection Setup

7. Read the volume of hydrogen gas. Record this volume as Vlab on your data sheet, and remember
to record the proper number of significant figures.
8. Repeat steps # 1 through 7 two more times. Reuse the copper wire.
9. During one of the trials, measure the temperature of the water, in Celsius, and record it as Tlab.
The temperature of the water will probably not change dramatically throughout the course of the
experiment.
10. Do your calculations for each trial and check with lab staff before leaving.

Page 3

DATA AND CALCULATIONS

Trial
a. Mass of Mg (g)

b. Temperature of water (C)

c. Temperature of water (K) =
Tlab
d. Volume of hydrogen
generated (mL) in lab
conditions = Vlab
Atmospheric pressure in room during experiment (Ptot) = ______________ mm Hg (from whiteboard)
Calculate PH2 for each trial:
Trial
e. PH2O (from Table 1 and
Tlab)

PH2 = Ptot PH2O

1

f. PH2 (referred to as Plab in

next calculation)

Calculate the STP volume of hydrogen, using: VSTP =

Plab Vlab TSTP

PSTP Tlab

trial, below)

Page 4

(Show your work, for one

Trial
g. Volume of hydrogen at
STP (in L) = VSTP

Calculate moles of H2 gas generated, n, based on mass of Mg and balanced chemical equation (see
example). Show work for one trial here:

Trial

3
(Optional)

h. Moles hydrogen (n)

Finally, calculate the molar volume of hydrogen at STP ( = VSTP/n):

Trial
i. Molar volume of
hydrogen at STP(L/mole)

Calculate the average from the trials:

_________ L/mole

Calculate a percent error for your average:

_________

% Error
literature experimental value x 100
literature value

__________

Page 5

3 (Optional