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Objectives:
1. Synthesize and isolate zinc iodide by reaction of the elements
2. Observe differences in physical properties that distinguish the substances in
this reaction
3. Use the data to verify the Law of Conservation of Mass and to calculate the
empirical formula of the product.
4. Use electrolysis to decompose the zinc iodide back into its constituent
elements.
Introduction:
In this experiment, a combination reaction between the elements zinc and iodine
will illustrate the strengths and limitations of a balanced chemical equation and the
practical problems encountered in obtaining a pure product. The reaction between zinc
and iodine to produce the ionic compound zinc iodide is: Zn(s) + I2(s) → ZnI2(s), and will
go to completion after a period of several minutes. But this reaction is not as simple as
its equation looks. If Zn metal and I2 are mixed, no reaction takes place. On the atomic
scale the molecules in solid I2 cannot get close enough to the atoms in Zn metal to react.
But if a small amount of water is added to this mixture, some of the I2 molecules will
dissolve in the water and move close enough to the Zn metal atoms to react. Water is not
a substance in the overall reaction, but its presence is one of the conditions needed for the
reaction to occur at room temperature.
1. Since the Zn(s) and I2(s) do not dissolve in water easily, they can be separated
from the liquid mixture by carefully pouring off (decanting) the zinc iodide
solution.
2. The liquid contains zinc iodide mixed with water and acetic acid, but since
both H2O and CH3COOH are volatile they can be removed by gently heating
the mixture. This leaves pure ZnI2(s), the product of the main chemical
equation, once evaporation of the water and acetic acid is complete.
Procedure:
Formal Report
Answer the following questions in your formal report. If the answer requires a
calculation, show your work.
1. How well do your results agree with the Law of Conservation of Mass (use
percent difference to compare)? What errors might have led to any violation of
the Law?
2. Percent composition of Zn and I
% composition = (mass of element / mass compound) x 100%
3. Empirical formula of zinc iodide for your measured masses
4. What do the results of the decomposition of zinc iodide say about the composition
of the solid product from part I of the experiment (i.e. what elements are present)?