Ideal Gas Law Lab
Ideal Gas Law Lab
Ideal Gas Law Lab
Purpose:
Introduction:
The gas laws you have learned such as Boyle’s, Charles, and Avogadro’s
relate one of the four variables of P,V,T, and n to another variable. The
proportionalities can be combined to derive an equation called the Ideal
gas law, given by the equation PV = nRT.
In the equation, P = gas pressure, V = gas volume, n = number of gas
moles, T = Kelvin Temperature and R = a proportionality constant.
The Ideal gas law equation describes the physical behavior of an ideal
gas in terms of the above variables. An “ideal” gas follows the gas laws
at all conditions of P and T. The particles of an ideal gas have no volume
or size and there is no attraction between them. Ideal gases do not exist.
However, at many conditions of moderate temperature and pressure real
gases behave very much like ideal gases. Real gases differ most from
an ideal gas at low temperatures and high pressures. During this
experiment you will determine the number of moles of CO 2 gas formed
during a chemical reaction using the ideal gas law. In addition, you will
determine the percent yield of CO2 from the reaction using the
stoichiometric relationships between the reactants and the products.
Safety: Wear Safety goggles and use caution working with HCl acid
Experimental Procedure: (get barometric pressure)
5. Record the exact mass of the sodium bicarbonate in the data table
9. Stretch open the balloon neck, and carefully and slowly pour the
sodium bicarbonate into the deflated balloon by using the weighing
paper as a folded-up funnel to transfer the sodium bicarbonate into
the balloon over the sink. (Avoid spilling)
10. When all of the sodium bicarbonate has been added, tap the
side of the balloon to make sure the powder is inside the main part
of the balloon and none is in the opening.
11. While one partner pinches off the neck of the balloon to keep
the powder in the balloon, the other partner stretches the mouth of
the balloon over the mouth of the flask. Then Very Carefully stretch
the balloon end over the mouth of the flask, making sure the
NaHCO3 does not fall into the flask.
12. Once the balloon nozzle has been placed over the mouth of
the flask, have a partner hold it on so that it cannot fall off the
Erlenmeyer flask.
13. Once the balloon is firmly fastened, the other partner should
stop pinching the balloon to release all of the powder from
the balloon into the flask containing the acid.
14. While the balloon inflates, keep holding the flask neck to keep
the balloon on the flask so none of the gas escapes
15. When the reaction stops (no more bubbles), pinch the end of
the balloon and slowly peel it from the flask
16. Tightly tie or clamp off the balloon end so it is closed (avoid
losing any gas from the balloon)
17. Using a paper towel, carefully wipe off any liquid that
splashed up onto the balloon nozzle, and rinse your hands
19. Wrap the string around the inflated balloon and mark the
starting and ending points on the string with a pen or marker.
20. Place the string next to a metric ruler and measure the
distance between the marked points on the string in cm.
Title:
Purpose:
Lab Equipment:
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Chemicals:
1.
2.
r = _C_
2π C = circumference π = 3.14
Radius = ____________________
V=4πr3
3
Volume = ______________________
Note: 1 cm3 = 1 mL
K = °C + 273
Temperature = _______________________
(note: at thermal equilibrium room temperature = CO2 gas temperature)
convert atmospheric pressure from barometer reading in inches Hg to
mm Hg and atmospheres (atm)
1 inch = 2.54 cm
1mm = 0.1 cm
1atm = 760 mm Hg
calculate the actual number of CO2 gas moles (n) in the balloon using
the ideal gas Law PV = nRT
Write a complete balanced chemical equation for the reaction inside the
flask from the given word equation.
Word Equation:
1. Using the combined gas law, calculate the volume the CO2 gas
would occupy in mL at STP starting with your experimental data.
2. Calculate the density of the CO2 gas in g/L at STP using its molar
mass and molar volume at STP. ( note: Vm @ STP = 22.4 L / mol)
3. Calculate the density in g/L of the CO2 gas from your actual gas
mass data and the gas volume calculated in question 1. ( d = m /
v)
If you start out using 10.0 grams of NaHCO 3 and use an excess of
HCl, how many moles of CO2 can form?
8. Under what conditions does a real gas deviate most from ideal
behavior?
9. What is stoichiomety?
10. What could account for less than 100 % yield of CO 2 from
your chemical reaction?