LAB REPORT

MOLE-MASS RELATIONSHIPS IN REACTIONS

PURPOSE
To compare the theoretical mass of one of the products of a double replacement reaction with the
experimentally determined mass of the same product.

DATA & CALCULATIONS

DATA COLLECTED
Variable Value
mass of 2.19 g
mass of filter paper 0.71 g
mass of filter paper & precipitate 4.73 g
observations of the reaction between and Immediately, it turned milky,
with a whitish precipitate
sticking to the edges of the
beaker.
Table 1. The measurements taken for the Lab.

CALCULATIONS

BALANCED EQUATION FOR THE DOUBLE REPLACEMENT REACTION

THEORETICAL MASS OF PRECIPITATE, WHEN 2.19 G OF

REACT COMPLETELY

Jonathan Sterling
Jonathan Sterling

EXPERIMENTAL MASS OF FORMED

EXPERIMENTAL ERROR

Variable Value
balanced equation for double
replacement reaction

Theoretical mass of 1.54 g

precipitate, when 2.19 g of
react completely

Experimental mass of 4.02 g

formed
Experimental error 161%
Table 2. Contains the calculations for the Lab.

2
Jonathan Sterling

CONCLUSIONS AND QUESTIONS

1. What is another name for a double replacement reaction?
Double replacement is now called metathesis; the terms double replacement and double
displacement are deprecated.
2. Give a brief general description of a double replacement reaction. What must one of the
products of such a reaction be?
Double replacement reactions are generally when two ionic compounds are mixed together, and
the cations or anions of each compound switch. One product of a double replacement reaction is
always an insoluble solid.
3. Suggest some possible sources of error in this experiment.
The percent error in this experiment was massive, and the gap between the experimental and
theoretical masses for the zinc phosphate tetrahydrate was extremely large. Because the
experiment was done very carefully, I think that the procedure was somehow flawed. Because
the experimental mass was much greater than the theoretical, I assume that the procedure
filtered something else out along with the expected precipitate, thereby failing to deliver the
pure zinc phosphate tetrahydrate precipitate.
4. Define the terms filtrate and precipitate.
A filtrate is the liquid that has been filtered, or remaining after removal of solids via filtration. A
precipitate is a solid that separates from a solution.