Creating Solutions of Standard Molarity

Amber-Lynn Cruz
Chemistry Lab 1251-039
February 19

th,

2015
2+

Introduction: This experiment will be to prepare known concentrations of Cu solutions by

2+

diluting Copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate, followed by preparation of Cu solutions of different

concentrations. Through use of a Spectrophotometer instrument (spec 20), and application of
the Beer-Lambert Law (which states a direct relationship between amount of light of a colored
sample and its concentration), will be used to determine the concentration of Cu

2+

in an

unknown
solution. Concentrations are used in everyday life- strong coffee: high concentrations, weak
coffee: low concentrations. These examples show how a concentration is linked to flavorhigh concentration: strong flavor, meaning that high concentration shows large amounts of
solute contained in a unit of solvent found in the greatest amount. Environmental Agencies
report heavy concentrations through statistics on amount of toxic chemicals in the air and
water. The reports are represented in parts per million/billion (ppm/ppb). In chemistry the
units are Molarity (M) and Molarity (m). Molarity is the division of moles (solute) by
volume in liters (solution). A solution (mixture of solute/solvent) is homogeneous, so visual
differences arent recognized and visual identification of concentrations is impossible.

Procedures: The instrument was warmed up 15 minutes prior to use and set to 600nm (max
2+

absorbance for Cu solutions. 10 small test tubes were cleaned and labeled across the top with
a vertical, straight line hand drawn on tape. Every time the test tube was placed, marker was
aligned. Spec 20: Well was closed and emptied; transmittance set to 0% abundance (left hand

knob). Needle lined up with mirror reflection. One test tube filled with blank solution of the
way. Outside solutions/prints were wiped with Kimwipe. Test tube with blank placed into well,
aligned with marks, and closed. Pointer set to 100% transmittance (right hand knob) with
wavelength set. 4 test tubes were filled with small amounts of 0.05M, 0.1M, 0.2M, and
0.5M
(and small amounts of water, which later resulted as error in calculations). The standard
solutions were measured percent transmittance for 0.500M, 0.200M, 0.100M, and 0.050M
CuSo 4
solutions. With abundance calculated, absorbance values and concentrations plotted to create
calibration curve.
20.0mL of a 0.500M solution was created; graduated cylinder used for measurements. Solid
was weighed with 100mL beaker, water was added, mixed, and transferred between graduated
cylinder and beaker with total volume less than 20mL. Water was added to Pasteur pipette for
20mL. Mixture was transferred back and forth between graduated cylinder and beaker.
Homogeneous mixture was created. Some amount was transferred to curvette and percent
st

transmittance was checked (1 solution). With same solution, 20.0mL of a 0.200M

CuSO4

nd

solution create and percent transmittance was checked. (2 solution) Process repeated for
rd

20.0mL of a 0.100M CuSO4 solution and percent transmittance checked (3 solution). 20.0mL
of a 0.050M CuSO4 solution from 0.100M was created and percent transmittance checked (4

th

solution).

Results: Equations that were used during the experiment were as follows. To find abundance:

This equation is used to measure the amount of light that passes through a solution: A stands
for abundance of a concentration and T stands for transmittance. Example found in number
One of Sample Calculations.

Molarity can be found by:

Molarity s the unit used to report concentrations by dividing moles of solute (smallest
amount)
by Liters of the entire solution and can be seen in use with Example 2 in Sample
Calculations.

The mass of solution can be found by:

When needing to find just the mass of a solute, the moles are divided by the molar mass of
said solute.

To determine an unknown (initial/final) Molarity or Volume and can be seen in use in Example
3 of Sample Calculations

When given the initial values and only one final value, or two final values and one initial
value, the Serial Dilution Technique is setting up proportions of initial values to final. As seen
in Sample Equation #4.

To determine concentration, the following formula was given by the Excel

Spreadsheet:

Equation number 5 showed detailed example in sample

calculations.

When having measured and actual values, percent error is an intricate part in finding how
close the experimenter was to the actual value. The equation:

Table 1: Standard Solution Data:

Concentration of
Solutions (M)
0.05
0.1
0.2
0.5

%T

Absorbance

Actual Concentration

82%
77%
75%
46.5%

0.82
0.77
0.75
0.465

0.086
0.114
0.125
0.333

1.5
1.83
1.97
4.74

Table 2: Made Solution Data

Concentration of
Solution
0.05
0.1
0.2
0.5

% T

Absorbance

82%
76%
72%
43%

0.82
0.76
0.72
0.43

0.086
0.119
0.143
0.367

Actual
Concentration
1.5
1.89
2.21
5.19

Table 3: Unknown Solution

Solution

%T

Absorbance

Unknown

59%

0.59

0.229

Actual
Concentration
3.36

Table 4:
Solutions Made/Standard
0.05M
0.1M
0.2M
0.5M

% Error Absorbance
0%
4.39%
14.4%
10.2%

% Error Concentration
0%
3.28%
12.2%
9.50%

Fig. A Calibration Curve

Absorbtion of Copper(II)
Sulfate Solutions
Absorbance

0.35
0.3

y = 0.0752x 0.0235
R =

0.25
0.2

Abs.

0.15

Linear (Abs. )

0.1
0.05
0

1
2
4
5
Concentration
(mol/L)

Discussion

When creating the 0.500M CuSO4 solution, the necessary moles were obtained and
then calculated against the molecular weight of CuSO4 to get the grams. 2.5 grams of the solid
were mixed with 20 mL of distilled water to produce the 0.500 M solution. The solution was
then tested with the Spec 20, which gave the absorbance value. The absorbance was distributed
into the formula, y= 0.0752x-0.0235 to get the concentration. The concentration was 5.19
where as the standard was 4.74. The made solutions concentration was pretty close to the
standard, the only difference was that the concentrated made solutions were higher.
Absorbance values differed in that the made solutions had values slightly higher than the
standard solutions. In Table 1, all of the information that pertained from the standard solutions
are shown, information
included original Molarity of solutions, percent transmittance from Spec 20, actual
transmittance, absorbance as discovered by equation 4, and concentration, found by equation

number 5, which was given by Excel Graph (figure A). In Table 2, the exact same information
was founded, but
for the made solutions, which included: diluted Molarity of solutions, percent transmittance
from the Spec 20, actual transmittance, absorbance as seen in equation 4, and concentration,
which the equation came from the Excel Graph (figure A) and seen in Sample Calculation 5.

The maximum absorbance of 600nm was used in order that all of the absorbance that
could possibly have been absorbed or transmitted was done so. Percent transmittance was
measured instead of absorbance because transmittance is what is seen, and through what is
seen the experimenter known what color was absorbed through its opposite (according to the
color wheel) was shown. Conversion between percent transmittance and absorbance was
shown in Equation/Sample Calculations #1.The percent transmittance for the standard
solutions can be

seen: as 0.5M = 46.5% , 0.1M = 77%, 0.2M = 75% , and 0.05M =82%. The absorbance of
each:
0.5M 0.333, 0.1M = 0.114, 0.2M = 0.125, and 0.05M = 0.086. All are shown in Table 1 and
Figure A.

The unknown solution had a concentration of 3.36M, which was found by equation
Number 5. To compare the unknowns now known concentration of 3.36M; it was
compared against the known standards and made dilutions. The closest was the 0.2M
solution, although it wasnt that close.

Percent Error for absorbance values can be seen in Table 4, Column 2.

Concentration percent error: Table 4, Column 3. In order to get both percentages, the 6

th

equation was used, and a sample is seen in Sample Calculation 6.

Conclusion:

As absorbance (known prior to Figure A) increased, the concentration (unknown

prior to Figure A) increased. The two values were of positive correlation, extending
upwards as the numerical values became larger. On the molecular level, when wavelengths
are absorbed, what is seen is the light that is transmitted. The more light that is absorbed
means that the concentration of light that there is, is greater. The more molecules that
absorb the light, means the more molecules of concentrated light there are in the solution. A
major error that was made during the procedure portion of the lab was that water was added
to the standard solutions, diluting them prior to being put in the Spec 20 machine. The fact
that the concentration of the standard

solutions were above the Molarity of the solutions first posed a problem. As the issue
wasnt seen until after the experiment ended, the other procedures were found to be
correct. Hastily weighed grams of CuSO4, showed slight differences than the equation
asked for prior to the experiment, which would contribute to the made solutions being
off as well.