Experiment no 6: The main goal of this experiment is to determine the value of the universal gas

constant using the Ideal Gas equation: PV=nRT. In order to do this, the experimenter should first
calculate the volume occupied by one mole of a gas from the reaction produced by the experiment using
a piece of Mg ribbon and Hydrochloric acid.

Gas-
state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by relatively low density and viscosity,relative
ly great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and temperature, the ability to diffusereadily,
and the spontaneous tendency to become distributed uniformly throughout any container.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Gas-phase

Four quantitative properties can be used to describe a gas namely, Pressure (P), Volume (V),
Temperature (T) and mole quantity (n). The connections of these characteristics are better explained by
the Gas Laws such as Boyle’s Law, Charles’ Law, and Avogadro’s Law.

Boyle’s Law is expressed as V=1/P. (P1V1=P2V2)

Charles’ Law is expressed as V=T V1/T1=V2/T2

Avogadro’s Law is expressed as V1N1=V2N2, where the P and T are assumed to be constant

Combine them all together and you now have the Ideal Gas Law. The R is the gas constant, with the
value 0.08206 L atm/ mol K.

Answers to guide questions:

1. Which calc in the preceding section represents the molar volume of the gas? The molar volume
can be calculated by dividing the number of H2 moles to the STP Volume which is 22.4 L.
2. Based on this experiment, and allowing for variations in pressure and temperature from one
trial to the next, does the molar volume appear to be constant? Yes, it appears to be constant.
3. Use you calculated value of R to determine the volume that I mole of hydrogen gas would
occupy at 0 deg C and 101.3 kPa. This is the molar volume of hydrogen at STP.
V/n= RT/P (3.98 x 10-3 L atm/ mol K) (273 K)/ 1 atm ------ 1.09 L/mol H2
4. The accepted value for molar volume of hydrogen at standard temperature and pressure (STP) is
22.43 L/mol. Calculate the percentage error to your answer to Question 3.
(1.09/22.43) x 100 = 4.8% error.
5. Cite possible sources of experimental error in this experiment.
The Mg ribbon may not have been thoroughly and properly cleaned, therefore it may have been
contaminated when it was submerged in HCl.