Teachers instructions: IB Chemistry

The reaction between marble chips and hydrochloric acid

Aim To determine how change in surface area of reactant affects the rate of
reaction. Calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid will be used.

CaCO3 (s) + 2HCl (aq) CaCl2 (aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

The course of the reaction is followed by observing the change in mass as

carbon dioxide is given off. A direct reading balance is preferable.
Pupils will weigh time and record results.

Procedure
Place 5 g (limiting reagent) of marble chips, CaCO3 (s), in the conical flask
place it on the weighing scale.
Record the total mass.

Measure 30cm3 of 2.0M hydrochloric acid in a measuring cylinder, plug the

neck of the flask loosely with cotton wool and place it on the weighing scale
next to the conical flask.
Record the total mass.
Add the acid to the marble chips, replace the cotton wool, and start the stop-
clock. Replace the empty measuring cylinder on the weighing scale next to
conical flask.
Record the mass every minute.
Continue the experiment until no more change in mass is evident.
Repeat the above procedure using 5 g of powdered CaCO3 (s).
Do as many trials as time allows.
Analyze your results.
What is the effect of the concentration of the reactants on the rate of
reaction between sodium thiosulphate and hydrochloric acid in
solution?

Procedure
The reaction between sodium thiosulphate solution and hydrochloric acid may
be represented by the equation:

S2O⅔ - (aq)+2H+(aq) H2O(1)+SO2(g)+S(s)

When hydrochloric acid is added to sodium thiosulphate solution, a precipitate

of sulphur forms slowly. If we record the time needed for a certain amount of
precipitate to form, we can use this as a measure of the rate of the reaction.
A simple method of estimating when a fixed amount of sulphur has been
formed is to carry out the reaction in a beaker standing on a piece of white
paper on which a cross has been marked. On looking down on to the mixture
in the beaker the cross will gradually become fainter as the precipitate forms
and will no longer be seen when a certain amount of sulphur is present. For
this method to be accurate the same depth of liquid must be used in each
case. This can be done by having the liquid mixture always of the same
volume and using the same beaker and marked piece of paper throughout.

You will be provided with 2.0M hydrochloric acid and 0.15M sodium
thiosulphate solution.

Mark a large cross in pencil on a piece of white paper and place it on the
bench. Pour 50cm3 of the sodium thiosulphate solution into a clean dry
100cm3 beaker and stand it over the cross on the paper. Now add 5cm3 of the
hydrochloric acid to the beaker, stirring the mixture while this is being done,
and start a stop-clock (or note the time on a clock with a seconds hand). Look
downwards through the solution in the beaker at the cross and note the time
when the cross disappears. Record the results.

Clean and dry the beaker and repeat the above procedure using 40cm3
sodium thiosulphate solution mixed with 10cm3 water and add 5cm3 acid.
Again note the time for the cross to disappear.

Repeat the experiment using the other mixtures shown in the table.

Experiment A18.1b
 Apparatus

Each pair of pupils will need:

Experiment sheet 73
Conical flask, 100cm3 (labeled “Hydrochloric acid”)
Measuring cylinder, 100cm3
Measuring cylinder, 10cm3
Beaker 100cm3
Beaker, 250cm3 (labeled “Sodium thiosulphate”)
Stirring rod
Stop-clock or watch with a seconds hand
Sheet of white paper
Graph paper
2.0M hydrochloric acid, about 40 cm3
Sodium thiosulphate solution, containing 37 g per dm3 (about 0.15M), about
200 cm3