Molar Volume of a Gas Lab

Date Performed: July 23rd, 2014

Date Due: September 3, 2014

Evan Tucker (50%) ___________________________

Kiran Vekaria (50%) ____________________________

Objectives:
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the molar volume of the evolved
hydrogen gas in the following reaction:
Mg ( s ) +2 HCl ( aq ) MgCl 2 ( aq ) + H 2 (g)
This process involved the use of conversions between mass and moles, the equation of
state for an assumed ideal gas, and the definition of molar volume. In addition, the process of the
error propagation was used to find the error in molar volume.

Data Sheet:
Constants:
Mg molecular weight
(g/mol)
R (L kPa K^-1 mol^-1)

24.305
8.3144
62

Experimental Data:

Mass of Mg (g)
Volume of flask
(mL)
Pressure change,
P (kPa)
Temperature (K)
Moles of H2 (mol)

Trial
1
0.011

Trial
2
0.012

Trial
3
0.010

Trial Uncertai
4
nty
0.010 0.001

152.0

152.0

152.0

152.0 0.5

3.24
294.7
0.000
45

8.02
294.8
0.000
49

6.47
294.8
0.000
41

6.21
294.9
0.000
41

0.03
0.1

0.00004

Calculated Values:

0.342

0.030

0.151

Trial
Uncertain
Uncertai
3
Trial 4 nty
ty
0.15
0.012
6
0.015 0.162
0.016

756.1
5

94.77

305.5
9

35.03

378.
86

52.12

394.8
4

54.32

2.571

22.4
2

3.085

22.42

3.086

Trial 1
Volume of
H2 (L)
Molar
Volume of
H2 (L/mol)
Molar
Volume of
H2 at
Standard
State
(L/mol)

22.42

Uncertai
nty

2.817

Trial
2

22.42

Uncertain
ty

Raw Data:
The raw data obtained from the temperature and gas pressure sensors can be found in the
attached Appendix A.

Graphs:

The graphs of the pressure versus time and temperature versus time can be found in the
attached Appendix B.

Sample Calculations:
Calculations for moles of H2:
This calculation involved basic stoichiometry and conversions to determine the number
of moles of H2 produced in the previously described reaction. The mass of the Mg was measured
and the molecular weight and molar ratio of Mg to H2 was referenced from the chemical equation
described earlier.
n H =mMg
2

H
1

M Mg Mg
2

n H =0.011 g Mg
2

1 mol H 2
1 mol Mg

=0.00045 mol H 2
24.305 g Mg 1 mol Mg

The error propagation equation for this calculation is as follows.

nH =
2

nH =
2

2
H
n
n
1
m =
m=

m
m
m
M Mg Mg

1
24.305

g
Mg
mol

0.001 g Mg

1 mol H 2
=0.00004 mol H 2
1mol Mg

Calculation for Volume of H2 evolved:

The gas mixture within the flask is assumed to be an ideal gas so the corresponding
equation of state was used in the calculations.

V=

nRT
=
P

( 0.00045 mol)(294.7 K) 8.314462

3.24 kPa

L kPa
K mol

) =0.342 L H

The error propagation equation for this calculation is as follows.

V=

2
2
V
V
V
n +
T +
P
n
T
P

V=

2
2
RT
nR
nRT
n +
T +
P
2
P
P
P

V=

( (

) (

) (

)(

)(

2
LkPa
(
)
8.314462
294.7 K
K mol
0.00004 mol H 2 +
3.24 kPa

2
L kPa
( 0.00045 mol ) 8.314462
K mol

0.1 K +
3.24 kPa

L kPa
(0.00045 mol) 8.314462
(294.7 K )
K mol

0.03 kPa
(3.24 kPa)2

V =0.030 L

Calculation for molar volume:

The molar volume was calculated with the equation in the lab activity as shown below.
V
0.342 L
L
V = =
=756.15
n 0.00045 mol
mol

The error propagation equation for this calculation is as follows.

V =

2
V
V
V +
n
V
n

)(

 V =

V =

(
(

2
1
V
V + 2 n
n
n

) (

2
1
0.342 L
0.030 L +
0.00004 mol
0.00045 mol
(0.00045 mol)2

)(

V =94.77

L
mol

Calculation for molar volume at standard state:

This calculation shows what the molar volume of the gas would be if it were found at
standard state of 273.15 K and 101.3 kPa. It is found using the combined gas law.
o
P V T
o

V =
o
T
P

V o=

( 3.24 kPa)(756.15

L
)
mol

294.7 K

273.15 K
=22.42 L
101.3 kPa

The error propagation equation for this calculation is as follows.

o

T
V o = o
P

V o =

2
V
P 2 P V
( P) +
V +
T
T
T
T2

273.15 K
101.3 kPa

)(

)(

2
L
756.15
mol
3.24 kP a
L 2
0.03 kPa +
94.77
+
294.7 K
294.7 K
mol

)(

2
L
( 3.24 kPa)(756.15
)
mol
L

0.1 K =2.818
2
mol
(294.7 K )

Conclusions and Discussions:

Results are above. Compared to theoretical:
For Part A error was determined to be 10.9%.
For Part B error was determined to be 1.12%, 1.25%, and 0.036% error in hydrogen, volume,
and molar volume respectively.
For all other sections, a theoretical value could not be found or was not applicable.
For the calculation of molar volume of H2 at standard state, it is shown that all the calculations
come to roughly 22.42 L. This shows that under the conditions used within the lab the gas retains
the characteristics of an ideal gas.
Error in Part A was likely due to the accuracy of the balanced compared to the mass of Mg used
in the experiment. If the quantity of Mg used were to increase, the error in the measurement
would remain constant which would produce a lower percent error.
Additional sources or error may have been caused by an imperfect seal which could have
allowed hydrogen to escape. This phenomena was observed during Trial 1 which caused the
pressure change to be artificially low and have a higher than average uncertainty. Prior to Trials
2-4 each connection was tightened to ensure adequate sealing.

It is recommended that future trials of this experiment use a greater quantity of both Mg and HCl
in order to reduce error caused by accuracy of the balance. Leak testing prior to testing may also
be beneficial in future experiments to ensure proper sealing.