Rik Ghosh George AP Chemistry (7) 24 August 2011 PURPOSES:

EXPERIMENT 4: Mass Analysis of Metal Oxides

1. To determine the mass percent of the metal and oxygen in a metal oxide through reduction, with natural gas as a reducing agent. 2. To identify the oxide by comparing its composition, observed in an experiment, with compositions predicted by various known oxides. 3. To check and determine if the reduction process is complete. PROCEDURE: 1. Get a sample of unknown metal oxide and a large test tube with a two-hole stopper and glass tubing inserts. 2. Using an analytical balance, weigh the test tube to the nearest 0.0001 gram. 3. After putting about 1 gram of the oxide in the test tube, weigh it again, using the same balance. 4. Tap the tube so all the solid goes to the bottom 5. Attach the tube the holding apparatus, and place a Bunsen burner under the end of the test tube (where the oxide is). 6. Connect the unbent tube to the gas jet using rubber tubing. 7. Again use rubber tubing to connect the bent tube to the Bunsen burner. 8. Have an instructor inspect the apparatus. 9. Close off the air supply to the Bunsen burner, turn on the gas, light the burner, and let the flame burn until it becomes yellow. 10. Adjust the air until the flame turns blue. 11. Taking care not to melt the test tube, heat the sample gently and then strongly. 12. Heat the sample for 5 more minutes after the reactions seems to have been completed. It should take about 10 minutes to complete. 13. After you are sure the reaction is complete, stop heating the tube and let it cool, but do not turn of the Bunsen burner (risk of metal deoxidizing). 14. Turn the tube away from the Bunsen burner and let it cool to room temperature. 15. After cooling, weigh the tube once again. 16. After weighing, tap the solid against the lab bench and heat the sample once again (to check if the reaction is complete). 17. Allow the tube to cool, and weigh once again. 18. Check to see if the masses agree within 0.0002 grams.

DATA: Mass of empty test tube (g) Mass of test tube and metal oxide (g) Mass of test tube and metal (1st heating) (g) Mass of test tube and metal (2nd heating) (g) Qualitative observations (color change etc)

CALCULATIONS:

CONCLUSION: In this lab, we reduced an unknown metal oxide by heating it in the presence of natural gas, which for our purposes provided similar results to heating the oxide in the presence of hydrogen; this was done using an apparatus consisting of a test tube with a two-hole stopper. One hole brought natural gas into the test tube, and the other brought it from the test tube to the Bunsen burner to fuel it. Using an analytical balance, we measured the mass of the substance before and after the reaction. From these values, we were able to calculate the percent composition of the metal in the metal oxide, and through that, the percent composition of the oxygen; ultimately, both were used to identify the substance. Through calculation, we found the percent composition of the oxide to be 86.87% metal and 13.13% oxygen. After comparing our values to the compositions of various other metal oxides, we found our data to be closest to the composition of Cu20, which had a percent composition of 88.82% metal and 11.18% Oxygen. Assuming that the oxide was, indeed, cuprous oxide, the chemical equation for the reaction is:

There were numerous opportunities for error in this lab. Once such source is if the sample had not cooled down fully while we measured it. This would result in a lower percent composition of metal which was true in our case as the hot metal would create convection air currents inside the doors of the analytical balance, which would create an artificial lift. This lift would cause the metal to rise slightly from the balance, thus lowering its recorded mass. A lower mass results in a lower percent composition. Another reason for our lower-than-expected mass is that the sample was not completely dry when we weighed

it initially. This would cause the initial mass to be higher than what it should be, which would decrease the overall difference between the initial and final (after the reaction) masses. Because the oxygen leaves during the reaction, the difference in masses is equal to the mass of the metal, which would therefore decrease. A decrease in perceived metal mass, again, leads to a lower percent composition of metal. PERCENT ERROR: