AP CHEMISTRY LAB #9

DETERMINING THE STOICHIOMETRY OF A CHEMICAL REACTION –

METHOD OF CONTINUOUS VARIATIONS

Derek Hammons
AP Chemistry 5th pd
Sept 15th

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 AP CHEMISTRY LAB #9
DETERMINING THE STOICHIOMETRY OF A CHEMICAL REACTION –
METHOD OF CONTINUOUS VARIATIONS
PRELAB QUESTIONS
1. The following data were obtained in a continuous variations experiment.
Both solutions were 0.5 M.

Experiment mL AgNO3 mL K2CrO4 Grams Precipitate

1 5.0 45.0 1.7
2 15.0 35.0 5.0
3 25.0 25.0 8.3
4 30.0 20.0 10.0
5 35.0 15.0 9.9
6 40.0 10.0 6.6
7 45.0 5.0 3.3

Using Microsoft Excel or other graphing software, plot the mL of silver nitrate
(x axis) versus grams of precipitate (y axis). Be sure the axes are labeled.
Paste the graph into MS Paint and draw two best-fit lines. One should go
through the increasing points, and another line should go through the
decreasing points. It may take several tries to get it right. Determine the
Stoichiometry of the reaction from the intersection of these lines. Remember
that coefficients are usually small whole numbers, so reduce the ratio if
needed.

Intersection at 11g, 33mL

11g/331.74g/mol = .033mols
.033L x .5M = .0165mols

2:1 ratio of AgNO3 to Ag2CrO3

2AgNO3 + K2CrO4  Ag2CrO3 + 2KNO3

2. Are there enough values in your graph to make a valid conclusion? Why or
why not?

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 AP CHEMISTRY LAB #9
DETERMINING THE STOICHIOMETRY OF A CHEMICAL REACTION –
METHOD OF CONTINUOUS VARIATIONS
Having taken AP Statistics last year (and getting a 5 on the exam), I do not
believe there are enough values to make a valid conclusion. It’s a nice start,
but to come to definite conclusion as to the mole ratio of Silver Nitrate to
precipitate, more data points are necessary.

MATERIALS
Cupric Chloride solution, CuCl2, 0.05 M, 210 mL (Part 2 only)
Graduated cylinders, 50 mL, 2
Ferric nitrate solution, Fe(NO3)2, 0.1 M, 210 mL (Part 1 only)
Graduated cylinders, 100 mL, 7
Sodium hydroxide solution, NaOH, 0.1 M, 210 mL (Part 1 only)
Stir rods, long, 2
Sodium phosphate tribasic solution, Na3PO4, 0.05 M, 210 mL (Part 2 only)
Marker or labeling pen

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
All solutions are skin and eye irritants and slightly toxic by ingestion. Avoid
contact with eyes and skin. Wear goggles and lab coat. Wash hands
thoroughly before leaving the laboratory.

PROCEDURE

PART 1 – REACTION OF FERRIC NITRATE WITH SODIUM HYDROXIDE

Important – The iron in iron nitrate acts as a Lewis acid in solution. When
combined with sodium hydroxide, the precipitate forms as long as iron nitrate
is not in excess. When iron nitrate is in excess, the precipitate will form but
immediately dissolve. The larger this excess, the more precipitate that
dissolves. Your plot will reflect this.
1. Label seven very clean 100-mL graduated cylinders 1-7.
2. Using a clean 50-mL graduated cylinder, add the appropriate volume of
ferric nitrate solution to each 100-mL graduated cylinder, as shown in
Table 1.
3. Use a second 50-mL gradated cylinder to add the appropriate volume
of sodium hydroxide solution to each 100-mL gradated cylinder, as
shown in Table 1.

Table 1
Cylinder # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Fe(NO3)3, 0.1 M, mL 5 10 12 15 17 20 24
NaOH, 0.1 M, mL 55 50 48 45 43 40 36
Fe:OH Mole Ratio 1:11 1:5 1:4 1:3 2:5 1:2 2:3

4. Use a large stirring rod to thoroughly mix the reactants. Between each
mixing, rinse the stir rod with DI water and wipe clean. Observe the
signs of a chemical reaction in each cylinder. What color is the
precipitate and what color is the supernatant?

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 AP CHEMISTRY LAB #9
DETERMINING THE STOICHIOMETRY OF A CHEMICAL REACTION –
METHOD OF CONTINUOUS VARIATIONS
5. Let the reaction mixtures sit undisturbed for at least 10 minutes to
allow the precipitates to settle.
6. After waiting, record the volume of precipitate in each graduated
cylinder in the Part 1 Data Table.

PART 2 – REACTION OF CUPRIC CHLORIDE WITH SODIUM PHOSPHATE

1. Label seven very clean 100-mL graduated cylinders 1-7.

2. Using a clean 50-mL graduated cylinder, add the appropriate volume of
cupric chloride solution to each 100-mL graduated cylinder, as shown
in Table 2.
3. Use a second 50-mL gradated cylinder to add the appropriate volume
of sodium phosphate solution to each 100-mL gradated cylinder, as
shown in Table 2.

Table 2
Cylinder # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
CuCl2, 0.05 M, mL 10 20 24 30 36 40 50
Na3PO4, 0.05 M, mL 50 40 36 30 24 20 10
Cu:PO4 Mole Ratio 1:5 1:2 2:3 1:1 3:2 2:1 5:1

7. Use a large stirring rod to thoroughly mix the reactants. Between each
mixing, rinse the stir rod with DI water and wipe clean. Observe the
signs of a chemical reaction in each cylinder. What color is the
precipitate and what color is the supernatant?
8. Let the reaction mixtures sit undisturbed for at least 10 minutes to
allow the precipitates to settle.
9. After waiting, record the volume of precipitate in each graduated
cylinder in the Part 2 Data Table.

DATA TABLES

Part 1
Cylinder # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Fe(NO3)3, 0.1 5 10 12 15 17 20 24
M, mL
NaOH, 0.1 M, 55 50 48 45 43 40 36
mL
Fe:OH Mole 1:11 1:5 1:4 1:3 2:5 1:2 2:3
Ratio
Volume 9.5 13.8 15 19.5 23.1 Non Non
Precipitate e e
(mL)
Color of brown brown brown brown brown brow bro
Precipitate n wn
Color of transpa transpa transpa transpa transpa brow bro
Supernatant rent rent rent rent rent n wn

Part 2

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 AP CHEMISTRY LAB #9
DETERMINING THE STOICHIOMETRY OF A CHEMICAL REACTION –
METHOD OF CONTINUOUS VARIATIONS
Cylinder 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
#
CuCl2, 10 20 24 30 36 40 50
0.05 M,
mL
Na3PO4, 50 40 36 30 24 20 10
0.05 M,
mL
Cu:PO4 1:5 1:2 2:3 1:1 3:2 2:1 5:1
Mole
Ratio
Volume 22 49 51 54 59 55 50
Precipita
te (mL)
Color of Sky Sky Sky Light Light Light Very
Precipita blue blue blue sky sky sky light
te blue blue blue blue
Color of transpa transpa transpa transpa transpa transpa transpa
Superna rent rent rent rent rent rent rent
tant

RESULTS, POST-LAB CALCULATIONS AND QUESTIONS

RESULTS

1. Using the graphing method from the prelab, plot the milliliters of
reactant #1 versus volume of precipitate for each reaction. Do not
draw lines yet.
2. For the copper chloride graph, draw the two best-fit lines in MS
Paint through the data points and determine their point of
intersection. Paste your graph here in your postlab.

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 AP CHEMISTRY LAB #9
DETERMINING THE STOICHIOMETRY OF A CHEMICAL REACTION –
METHOD OF CONTINUOUS VARIATIONS

3. What mole ratio corresponds to the Stoichiometry of the reaction?

Write a balanced chemical equation to support your findings.

35mL Copper Chloride is a 3:2 ratio of Copper Chloride to Sodium

Phosphate

3CuCl2 + 2Na3PO4  Cu3(PO4)2 + 6NaCl

4. For the iron nitrate graph, draw a best fit line through the
ascending data and a smooth curve through the descending data.
Determine their intersection point. Paste your graph here in your
postlab.

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 AP CHEMISTRY LAB #9
DETERMINING THE STOICHIOMETRY OF A CHEMICAL REACTION –
METHOD OF CONTINUOUS VARIATIONS

5. What mole ratio corresponds to the Stoichiometry of the reaction?

Write a balanced chemical equation to support your findings.

15mL Fe(NO3)3 is a 1:3 ratio of Iron Nitrate to Sodium Hydroxide

Fe(NO3)3 + 3NaOH  Fe(OH)3 + 3NaNO3

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

6. Explain why this method allows you to find the mole ratio of
reactants.

The point at which the two lines cross is the point at which the most
precipitate is created, which is where the reaction is completed the most. It
is at this point that ALL of the reactants have been used in the reaction, and
so it is possible to determine the mole ratio from the amount of reactants
used.

7. Why must you keep a constant volume of reactants?

If the volume of reactants is not constant, then the different amounts of

reactants in the different graduated cylinders cannot be compared; by having
the same volume for each reaction we eliminate a variable, leaving only the
ratio of reactants as the variable we are testing in the experiment.

8. Is it necessary that the concentration of the two solutions be the

same?

No, the mole ratio can still be found with two different concentrations of
solutions. Having the two solutions at the same concentration just makes
finding the mole ratio easier.

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 AP CHEMISTRY LAB #9
DETERMINING THE STOICHIOMETRY OF A CHEMICAL REACTION –
METHOD OF CONTINUOUS VARIATIONS

9. What is meant by the term limiting reagent?

The limiting reagent is the reactant that yields the least amount of product;
the reaction is limited by the amount of limited reagent available.

10. Which reactants are the limiting reagents along the upward
sloping line of your graphs? Which are the limiting reagents along
the downward sloping line?

Along the upward sloping lines, Copper Chloride and Iron Nitrate are the
limited reagents. Along the downward sloping line, Sodium Phosphate and
Sodium Hydroxide are the limiting reagents.

11. Why is it more accurate to use the point of intersection of the two
lines to find the mole ratio rather than the ratio associated with
the trial with the greatest volume of precipitate?

The mole ratio may not be exactly the same as the trial with the greatest
volume of precipitate. The actual greatest volume of ppt may have a higher
volume of the reactant or a lower volume, so the best-fit lines are used to
estimate the point at which there would be the most ppt, and therefore the
true mole ratio of the reaction.