Quality Control for the Athenium Baking Soda Company

Caleb Roundy
Gnimdo Tako
Chem 1215
1/23/2016

Introduction
The object of this experiment will be to perform quality control for the Athenium Baking
Soda Companys baking soda as it needs to be pure for its many uses such as cooking, cleaning,

and freshening. In the process of making the baking powder, the company uses brine which can
contain trace amounts of KCl, CaCl, and LiCl. In a first experiment, the sample will be heated
so that it lets off CO and HO. This loss of mass is contributed entirely to sodium bicarbonate
which can be used to determine its percent in the sample. A second experiment will use titration
titration of a solution of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. When the equivalence point
is found, the mass of sodium bicarbonate can be determined Solutions of Calcium, potassium,
and Lithium will then be tested with emission spectroscopy and compared to a solution of the
baking soda sample. Doing this experiment will answer the question of what percentage of
baking soda is in the given sample and if not pure, what contaminants have been left in the
sample?
The Athenium Baking Soda Company needs scientists to determine how pure their
baking soda is by performing quality control tests. They also want to know what contaminants
may be present in their baking soda with the knowledge that the only contaminants possibly in
the mixture are, calcium chloride, potassium chloride and lithium chloride. This experiment will
help with understanding how the things taught in this class can be used in real life scenarios,
such as using the knowledge of how chemicals react to determine the concentration of a
particular substance in a given sample.
When finding the percentage of baking soda in the sample, the sample will be heated
until no more loss of mass results. This loss of mass is a result of the decomposition of sodium
bicarbonate. Using molar comparison, the mass of sodium bicarbonate in the sample can be
determined. To check the data received in this experiment, another experiment using titration
must be performed. To do this a base solution of sodium carbonate will be titrated with a solution
of the baking soda sample until equivalence is reached. The data received from this can be used

to determine the molarity of sodium bicarbonate which can be used to determine the mass of
sodium bicarbonate in the baking soda sample. It is highly likely that the mass of sodium
bicarbonate is less than the actual sample which means there are contaminants. If it is more than
the sample, then it is likely a mistake was made in the procedure.
To determine the contaminants, take the emission spectra using a spectrophotometer of
the known ion solutions and of the baking soda solution by burning the solutions into a flame.
After finding emission spectra for all the samples determine what IA and/or IIA metal ion or ions
are in the baking soda solution. This is done by first looking at the color of the flame and
comparing it to the others, second viewing the emission spectra and comparing it to the others,
and finally comparing the wavelengths of each of the ions.
Experimental
List of Materials:

Sodium Carbonate (pure)

Baking Soda sample
1.0M HCl
0.1M Calcium chloride solution
0.1M Potassium chloride solution
0.1M Lithium chloride solution
MeasureNet spectrophotometer
Nichrome wire
pH probe
drop counter
Volumetric flask
Beral pipets
Kimwipes
Crucible and lid
buret

First, the method of decomposition will be used to determine the percent by mass of
sodium bicarbonate in the baking soda sample. The first items needed are a bunsen burner, a clay
triangle, iron ring, and wire gauze. Set up the clay triangle of the iron ring that will be placed

above the bunsen burner. the Wire gauze will be set aside for the cooling phase. Place the
crucible on a hot plate with the lid not completely covering the crucible and gently heat for 5
minutes. Let the crucible and lid cool on the wire gauze and then weigh both the crucible and lid
as the masses will be needed later. Next add approximately 1 gram of the baking soda sample to
the crucible making sure that the exact mass is known. Place the crucible with the sample on the
clay triangle and set the lid on top of the crucible while not completely covering it. Heat the
crucible with the bunsen burner gently for about 5 minutes. After this, adjust the bunsen burner
so that the cone of the blue flame just touches the crucible and vigorously heat like this for 15
minutes. Let the crucible with the sample and the lid cool and then weigh them. Repeat the
heating process as many times as needed for 5 minutes gently and 5 minutes vigorously until the
mass doesn't change more than 0.005 grams. Calculate the stoichiometric ratio for the mass lost
from carbon dioxide and water per gram of sodium bicarbonate decomposition. Use:
2NaHCO NaCO + CO + HO
With this, determine how many grams of CO and HO will be liberated per gram of NaHCO.
Calculate the mass of sodium bicarbonate in the original baking soda. Do this by using the
relationship just found and multiplying it to how many grams were actually liberated. Calculate
the percent by mass of sodium bicarbonate in the baking soda. Do this by using the mass of
NaHCO that you found above.
In the second method the experimenter will use titration to check the data that they got
using gravimetric analysis. First add approximately 1 gram of the baking soda sample to a 250
mL beaker making sure the exact mass of the baking soda is known. Add enough distilled water
to completely dissolve the baking soda and immerse the tip of the electrode on the pH probe into
the water. Record the volume of added water. Next, set up the MeasureNet, pH probe, and buret.

Then fill the buret with the 1.0M HCl and record the volume. Make sure that there are no
bubbles in the buret. Set up the MeasureNet to record pH of a solution versus volume. Calibrate
the MeasureNet with the 7.0 pH buffer solution. Once it is calibrated, rinse the electrode on the
pH probe to prepare it for measuring titration. Place the 250 mL beaker with the solution on a stir
plate and place a stir bar in the beaker. Place the buret above the beaker with the drop counter
just below the buret. Turn on the magnetic stir bar to a low setting and press start on your
MeasureNet. Put in the initial volume that is read on the buret. When it starts recording data,
slowly open the buret until it creates drops and no further. Make sure the the red light on the drop
counter flashes every time a drop passes it. If it is not, adjust it so that it does. The procedure
may be stopped after the pH recorded by the MeasureNet spikes. Make sure that the buret is
stopped before the MeasureNet is or the volume of added HCl will be inaccurate. Make sure that
the data recorded by the MeasureNet is saved and emailed for later use. A second trial for the
titration of NaHCO will need to be performed to ensure accurate results. With this data, a
titration curve will need to be made to find the equivalence point. The equivalence point is the
midpoint on the spike where the pH rises dramatically. The volume at which this happens will be
the volume of HCl that was required to reach equivalence. Both the moles of HCl and NaHCO
can be determined using the formula moles = (molarity of solution)(Volume used in L). With the
moles of NaHCO known, the mass of NaHCO in the baking soda sample can be determined.
To determine what contaminants are present in the baking soda take the 0.1M solutions of
LiCl, KCl, CaCl, and a solution of baking powder. Using the MeasureNet Spectrophotometer
prepare a station to record the emission spectra of each solution individually. This is done by
placing a fiber optic cable that is connected to you MeasureNet about 1 foot away from the flame
that the bunsen burner will give off.

When this is set up. Burn each solution into the flame individually using a coiled
nichrome wire and make sure to keep a record of the color it lets off and save the emission
spectra for each solution using the MeasureNet. Make sure to clean the flame with water in
between each solution. Using Excel, convert the data you received from the MeasureNet to make
graphs of each solution and their emission spectra. Using the graphs, determine what solutions
are present in the baking soda. Use all of the wavelengths where the intensity spikes on each
solution and compare them to the wavelengths of the baking soda solution to determine which of
the salts are present.
Results - sample # 825
Part 1: decomposition
1.Trial data
Mass of baking soda: 1.020g

Mass of crucible + baking soda: 10.922g

Mass of crucible: 9.902g

Crucible + baking soda after heating: 10.735g

Mass of crucible lid: 9.577g

After second heating: 10.733g

Mass lost: 0.189g

2. Stoichiometric ratio for loss of carbon dioxide and water per gram of sodium bicarbonate
1.020g NaHCO x 1 mole NaHCO x 1 mole HO
x 18.0g HO = 0.109g HO
84.0g NaHCO 2 mole NaHCO 1 mole HO

1.020g NaHCO x 1 mole NaHCO x 1 mole CO

x 44.0g CO = 0.267g CO
84.0g NaHCO 2 mole NaHCO 1 mole CO

In the stoichiometric ratio, 0.376g of HO and CO were liberated

3. Calculate the mass of sodium bicarbonate
0.189g HO and CO x 1.020g sample

= 0.513g NaHCO

0.376g HO and CO
4. Calculate the percent by mass
0.513g NaHCO x 100% = 50.3% NaHCO
1.020g sample

Part 2: titration
1.Preparation of Sodium bicarbonate solution
1.000g baking soda mixed with 100.0mL water
2. Titration of sodium bicarbonate with HCl - Trial 1

The equivalence point occurs when 5.19mL of HCl is added

3. Calculate the molarity of sodium bicarbonate - Trial 1
1.0M HCl x 0.00519L = 0.00519mol HCl x 1 mol NaHCO = 0.00519 mol NaHCO
1 mol HCl

0.00519 mol NaHCO = 0.0519M NaHCO

0.1 L water
4. Calculate the average mass of sodium bicarbonate
0.00519 mol NaHCO x 84.0 g NaHCO = 0.436g NaHCO
1 mol NaHCO

5. Calculate the percent by mass

0.436g NaHCO x 100% = 43.6% NaHCO
1.000g baking soda

Part 3: Emission spectroscopy

1.Compare the emmision spectrum from the baking soda solution with the salt solutions
Color
- CaCl - bright orange
- LiCl - magenta
- KCl - purple
- baking soda - bright orange
Emission spectrum

Baking soda wavelengths - 589, 770;2

CaCl wavelengths - 554, 589, 625, 770
LiCl wavelengths - 670
KCl wavelengths - 770
Discussion
This data clearly answers the main question that was asked by discussing how
pure the Athenium baking soda was by determining its percent by mass in two separate
experiments and collecting data that show which contaminants may have been in the baking

soda. With the data received and the tables and graphs that were put together the percent by mass
of sodium bicarbonate in the baking soda can be determined with little error along with the
contaminants present in the baking soda. However, we cannot determine the accuracy of our
;results. The accuracy of the results for the percent by mass could have been affected by the such
things as the cleanliness of our glassware and cuvettes and how well they were cleaned in
between testing solutions along with the accuracy of measurements. Cleanliness could also affect
emission spectrum from the bunsen burner. There could also be some minor errors in the
accuracy of our measurements which would affect the results, but to our knowledge, these results
are very accurate and precise for the available tools that we used.

Conclusion
Even though there is plenty of room for even more accurate data, the data we got from
these experiments and used is likely accurate with the given equipment. From the data we can
conclude with confidence that the baking soda only consisted of between 45% and 55% sodium
bicarbonate. Based upon the data received from emission spectroscopy, it can be safely assumed
that there were trace amounts of calcium chloride and potassium chloride in the baking soda
based upon the color of emission and wavelengths that are emitted. There is a little bit of
discrepancy with the emission of calcium chloride as it waivers a little bit from what normal data
looks like and from previous experiments using calcium chloride. Even in account of these
discrepancies, calcium chloride is still most likely one of the contaminants in the Athenium
baking soda. Because of the extremely low percentage of actual sodium bicarbonate in the
baking soda, this baking soda consists of a very large percentage of contaminants which makes it
not fit to be sold to the public.

Bibliography
Stanton, Bobby, Lin Zhu, and Charles H. Atwood. Experiments in General Chemistry. Mason,
Ohio, 2012. Print