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Lab - Determination of a Chemical Formula

Uploaded by erobinson on Apr 30, 2004

Determination of a Chemical Formula

Introduction:
This lab will show us how we can use acid-base titration to find molecular formulas of compounds. Specifically, we will be working with Zinc, Calcium, Hydrochloric Acid, and Water.

Data:

[img:61fe0dee2e]http://www.collegepimp.com/echeat/lab4.gif[/img:61fe0dee2e]

Calculations:
See notebook tear-out under “Calculations” heading

Discussion:
The purpose of this lab was to observe the reactions of metals with water and acid. We used Zinc and Calcium specifically. As I expected, the Calcium samples were more reactive to both water and hydrochloric acid. I determined this based on its location on the periodic table and the knowledge that the column of metals, of which Calcium is a part of, is highly reactive. When my lab partner and I lit the match and held it to the mouth of the test tube it went out. There was no explanation in the lab manual of why this occurs, but I am guessing that it has to do with the reaction between carbon monoxide and gases produced by the reactions in the test tube. Or, maybe the reactions were drawing oxygen into the tube, which would remove the source of fuel for the match burning.

One source of error would be if in part 2 the calcium did not fully react with water before titrating the solution with HCl. This would cause a lack of Ca(OH)2 thereby throwing all calculations. Also, if the molarity of the HCl being used to titrate was not correct, the results would not be accurate because molarity is required to calculate information such as moles of hydrogen ions.

This lab demonstrated to me how titration really works and gave me a better understanding of the reactions between acids and bases, and between metals and water/acids.

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Uploaded by:   erobinson

Date:   04/30/2004

Category:   Chemistry

Length:   1 pages (276 words)

Views:   15425

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