05.

04 Gas Calculations HonorsLab Report

Procedure:
1. Measure and cut a piece of magnesium ribbon 3.5 to 4.5 cm long. Do not exceed 4.5 cm.
2. Measure the mass of the magnesium ribbon to the nearest milligram (0.001 g) and record the
mass.

3. Fold up the magnesium ribbon into a small, tight bundle. Tie it with a piece of thread (10 to
15 cm long).
4.

Add about 10 mL of 3.0M HCl to a gas collection tube.

5. Hold the gas collection tube at an angle as you fill it completely with tap water, until it is
nearly overflowing. Holding the tube at an angle allows the air bubbles to escape.
6. Place the magnesium in the mouth of the gas collection tube so that it is about three cm
below the surface of the water. Fold the thread extension over the side of the tube. Insert a
one-hole stopper into the opening so that the magnesium ribbon is held firmly in place.
7. Fill a 400-mL beaker half full with water.
8. Holding your finger over the hole in the rubber stopper, invert the tube into the 400-mL
beaker of water. Clamp the gas collection tube in place on the ring stand so that the
stoppered end of the tube is under the water but not touching the bottom of the beaker.

9. Warning: Even though the acid has been diluted by the water, be sure to wash your
hands after handling the gas collection tube.
9. Observe the reaction. When no more hydrogen bubbles are visible, the reaction is complete.
Tap the tube gently to release any hydrogen gas bubbles on the side of the tube.
10. Wait an additional five minutes so that the hydrogen gas reaches room temperature.

11. Cover the hole in the stopper with your finger and transfer the tube to a large cylinder filled
with water. Lower or raise the tube until the liquid level on the inside of the tube is the same
as the outside. Record the volume of the hydrogen gas inside the gas collection tube. (Be
sure to read the liquid level at eye level.)
12. Measure and record the temperature and pressure of the lab room.
13. Obtain the appropriate vapor pressure of water from the table below and record.

Data and Observations:

Present all relevant data in a data table below. Include an observations section for any observations
that you made during the lab.
Mass of magnesium strip (grams)

0.0304

Volume of gas collected (mL)

10

Barometric pressure (atm)

1.1

Room temperature (degrees Celsius)

21

Vapor pressure of the water (torr)

18.7

Calculations:
1. Write the balanced equation for the reaction conducted in this lab, including appropriate
phase symbols.
Mg(s) + 2 HCl(aq) H2(g) + MgCl2(aq)
2. Determine the partial pressure of the hydrogen gas collected in the gas collection tube.
746mmHg - 19.8mmHg = 726mmHg
3. Calculate the moles of hydrogen gas collected.
125 mol
4. If magnesium was the limiting reactant in this lab, calculate the theoretical yield of the
gaseous product. Show all steps of your calculation.
Mol Mg = (0.0281 g)(1 mol/24.305 g) = 1.156*10^-3 mol

5. Determine the percent yield of this reaction, showing all steps of your calculation.
theoretical yield of H2 gas: (1.156 x 10^-3 moles)(1 mole H2/ 1 mole Mg) = 1.156 x 10^-3 moles
Theoretical mass: (1.156 x 10^-3 moles)(2.02 g/mole) = 2.335*10^-3 g
P = (1.1 atm)(760 torr / 1 atm) - 19.8 torr = 816.2 torr
V = 0.026 L
T = 295 K
Solve for n:
n = PV/(RT)
n = (816.2 torr)(0.026 L)/[(62.36367)(295)]
n = 1.153 *10^-3 moles
Mass = (1.153*10^-3 moles)(2.02 g/mole) = 2.330*10^-3 g <--- Actual yield % Yield = [(2.330 x
10^-3)/(2.335 x 10^-3)]*100%
Percent Yield = 99.8%

Conclusion:
1. Would the following errors increase, decrease, or have no effect on the calculated moles of
gas collected in the experiment? Explain your answers in complete sentences.
A. The measured mass of the magnesium was smaller than the true mass.
There were more moles measured so more gas was created than you calculated.
B. The actual temperature of the hydrogen gas is lower than room temperature.
As the volume of the gas decreased, the temperature also decreased.
2. Explain in terms of particle collisions and Daltons law why it can be assumed that the total
pressure inside the gas collection tube is equal to the atmospheric pressure outside of the
tube.
The particles inside the container are exerting force on the walls of the container, while the
particles outside of the container are also exerting force. If there were any less pressure from
the inside, the tube would collapse.
3. If an undetected air bubble was trapped inside the gas collection tube, how would this affect
your calculated percent yield? Explain your answer.

When you measure your % yield, you would be counting that air bubble thats trapped,
causing the percent yield to become non-pure