Short Report 1

Principles of Chemistry Laboratory

CHEM 121.02 A

Molar Mass of an Unknown Gas

Maala, Mary Sean Reilly G.1
1 Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Engineering, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City 1108, Philippines

1. Data and Results

Table 1.1. Data obtained from the three trials 𝑚 = 60.91𝑔 − 60.85𝑔
Trial 1 Trial 2 𝑚 = 0.06𝑔
Volume of gas (units: 0.07 0.07
Liters) On the other hand, pressure was obtained by
Temperature (units: 303.15 303.15 subtracting water vapor pressure (31.8mmHg at 30C)
Kelvin) from the atmospheric pressure obtained in the raw data
Atmospheric pressure 756.50 756.50 tables [2]. Afterwards, it was converted to atm.
(mmHg) 1𝑎𝑡𝑚
𝑃 = 756.50𝑚𝑚𝐻𝑔 − 31.8𝑚𝑚𝐻𝑔( )
Initial mass of gas- 760𝑚𝑚𝐻𝑔
generating material 60.91 61.06 𝑃 = 0.9536𝑎𝑡𝑚
and drying tube (g)
Final mass of gas- The values were then used in the equation:
generating material 60.85 60.88 𝐿 ∙ 𝑎𝑡𝑚
(0.06𝑔)(0.08206 )(303.15𝐾)
and drying tube (g) 𝑀= 𝐾 ∙ 𝑚𝑜𝑙
(0.9536𝑎𝑡𝑚)(0.07𝐿)
Mass of gas-generating
material (g) 1.01 1.01
𝑀 = 32.79 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙
Molar mass of gas (g) 22.36 67.08
Afterwards, the average molar mass for both trials
Average molar mass 44.72
was obtained.
(g)
22.36𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙 + 67.07𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙
Number of moles 0.0027 0.0009 𝑀̅=
2
(mol)
Average number of 0.0018 ̅ = 44.72 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑀
moles (mol)
The number of moles for each trial was computed
2. Sample Calculations using the following formula:
In order to compute for the molar mass of the gas 𝑚
generated, the following formula was used: 𝑛=
𝑀
𝑚𝑅𝑇 0.06𝑔
𝑀= 𝑛=
𝑃𝑉 22.36𝑔
where M is the molar mass, m is the mass of the gas
produced, R is the ideal gas constant (0.08206 The average number of moles for both trials was
L∙atm/K∙mol), T is temperature, P is pressure, and V is then computed.
volume [1]. The mass of the gas produced was obtained 0.0027𝑚𝑜𝑙 + 0.0009𝑚𝑜𝑙
by subtracting the final mass from the initial mass of the 𝑛̅ =
2
gas-generating material with the drying tube. 𝑛̅ = 0.0018𝑚𝑜𝑙

2018 © Maala
 Short Report 2

could also be used to make the measurements easier to

3. Discussion record. First, the graduated cylinder will be filled up to the
From the average molar mass obtained from the data top. It would then be flipped upside down and placed into
of trials 1 and 2, it can be inferred that the identity of the a container filled with water. The container will be the
gas produced is CO2 or carbon dioxide which has a molar substitute for the levelling tube because this maintains the
mass of 44.009g/mol [3]. Another way to determine this amount of the water in the graduated cylinder and
is by identifying the possible identity of the gas-generating prevents it from increasing or decreasing. Once the
material used in the experiment. The sample used was aqueous solution is added into the flask with an aqueous
Sample C which was a green powder. The possible identity solution, the stopper attached to a tube would be placed
of this material is copper carbonate or CuCO3 which was immediately. The gas would then cause the water to
observed through color [4]. When CuCO3 is heated, its displace and go to the container. Figure 3.1. shows the
products are CuO and CO2 [5]. This is in line with both setup of the modifications for the experiment. (ATQ #5)
the physical observations of the gas-generating material
and the average molar mass obtained in the experiment.
(ATQ #1)
Impurities in the gas-generating material may cause
errors in data since the contaminants may also react to
form a difference gas, leading to an inaccurate
measurement of the mass and volume of the gas produced.
Having said that, it is important that the material used in
the experiment is dry because water may evaporate and
Figure 3.1. Gas-generation setup with modifications.
form a gas, also affecting the mass and volume of the gas
produced by the material. However, it is important to note
4. Conclusion
that the mass and volume are unaffected by how much of
The experiment was a success since the identity of the
the reaction took place. For instance, a partial reaction
gas produced by the heating of the gas-generating material
would not cause errors in results. This is because the mass
was determined to be carbon dioxide. The ideal gas
and volume the gas will remain proportioned. As one
equation was properly used in the experiment to obtain
increases, the other increases. This would mean the ratio
the molar mass of the gas, leading to a deeper
is still the same and would not affect the results of the
understanding of the concepts of the ideal gas law as well
experiment when plugged into the equation. (ATQ #2)
as its applications in the laboratory. In order to improve
If water was produced in the absence of a drying tube,
the experiment, the gas burettes should be properly
the water displacement and data on the volume of gas
labeled with the measurements in order to ensure accuracy
would be affected. The water produced may intervene and
of measurements for the water displacement. More trials
add to the water in the burette. This means that when the
could also be conducted for precision and accuracy,
volume of the gas is recorded through the displacement of
especially because the precision in this experiment was not
the water in the burette, the water produced by the gas-
very good. If more trials were conducted, this could have
generating material is included. This would lead to
been improved. In addition to that, it is also recommended
erroneous results on volume, which would lead to an error
that other samples of gas-generating materials are used so
in molar mass since volume needed to compute for the
that each sample could be compared. By comparing a
molar mass of the unknown gas. (ATQ #3)
variety of samples, the application of the ideal gas equation
Another factor that may affect the molar mass of the
in determining the identity of masses could further be
unknown gas is the pressure used in computations. For
confirmed and presented through the data.
instance, if water vapor pressure was not taken into
consideration, that value for pressure would be 0.9954atm
instead of 0.9536atm. If plugged into the equation, the
prior would result in a much bigger value for molar mass
which would be 214.21g/mol. (ATQ #4)
The experiment can be done in a variety of ways. For
example, when using aqueous acids, an Erlenmeyer flask
could be used instead of a test tube. A graduated cylinder

2018 © Maala
 Short Report 3

5. References

[1] San Esteban, ACM, Yanza, ERS, editors.

Modern Experiments in General Chemistry I.
10th ed. 2018

[2] Kluiber R. Vapor Pressure of water 20-37 C

[Internet]. Genchem.rutgers.edu. 1998 [cited 18
November 2018]. Available from:
http://genchem.rutgers.edu/vpwater.html

[3] Carbon dioxide [Internet].

Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [cited 19
November 2018]. Available from:
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/
carbon_dioxide#section=Top

[4] Copper Carbonate | AMERICAN ELEMENTS

® [Internet]. American Elements. 2018 [cited 19
November 2018]. Available from:
https://www.americanelements.com/copper-
carbonate-1184-64-1

[5] Copper Carbonate Heating [Internet].

Nhehs.org.uk. 2018 [cited 19 November 2018].
Available from:
http://www.nhehs.org.uk/chemistry/_Copper_
carbonate_heating.html

2018 © Maala