Forces and Bonding: Gases

1 lab period; work in pairs. Answer the Preparation Questions (in the Lab Materials folder in
myWPI) before laboratory.

Goals

To explore the relationship between volume and temperature for a number of gases
To explore the relationship between volume and pressure for a number of gases
To explore the relationship between volume and amount for a number of gases
To use these properties to determine the molar mass and identity of two unknown gases.

Background (Also read the relevant sections of your textbook)

The gas phase was the last of the three common phases of matter to be appreciated, because most
gases are invisible and cannot be sensed by touch. It was not until the mid-18th century that techniques
for handling and measuring gases were developed. The state of a gas is characterized by citing the
temperature (T) of the sample, the pressure (P) exerted on (or by) it, the volume (V) it occupies, and
the amount (n) of it that is present. The relationship among these four quantities turns out to be quite
simple for gases. In this experiment, we will explore several aspects of this relationship.

Equipment and Materials

In your hood:
60-mL plastic syringe with hole thru barrel and 2 holes thru flange at top of barrel
Nail to place thru plunger hole
50-mL glass syringe
Small septum caps
1-L beaker for hot water bath
38 ounce tumbler for ice water bath
Bunsen burner
Ring stand with ring, wire gauze and clamps
On or near your lab bench:
Analytical balance
Elsewhere in lab
Bathroom scale (on front bench)
3 tanks of known gases: N2, He, Ar (located around lab)
2 tanks of unknown gases (located around lab)

Safety
Safety glasses must be worn at all times in the laboratory. You will work with hot water and open
flames. Please be careful.

Experimental Procedures
Record all data in your notebook. Obtain the required equipment.

Part 1: Relationship of Volume to Temperature

1. Examine the glass syringe to be sure that it has been properly lubricated with oil by the instructor.
The plunger should slide smoothly and easily in the barrel and a continuous film of lubricant oil
should be visible. If you are uncertain about the condition of the syringe, please show it to the
instructor / TA before proceeding.

2. Fully insert the plunger into the syringe barrel and, with instructor or TA assistance, fill it with
about 30 mL of either N2 or Ar. The volume neednt be exactly 30 mL. Seal the syringe tip using a
small septum cap and record the name and exact volume of gas.
Volume of gas below room temperature:
1. Prepare an ice bath by filling a tumbler half full with ice, and adding water to about 3/4th full and
insert a thermometer. (Important: remove the thermometer probe from its sleeve!)
2. Clamp the syringe tip-down in the ice bath and stir the bath. (Important: Clamp the syringe
barrel, NOT the plunger!)
3. Observe the syringe for volume changes. (Tip: Flick the syringe with your finger before noting
the volume to ensure the plunger isnt sticking.)
4. When the syringe has reached thermal equilibrium with the ice bath, as evidenced by cessation in
volume change, record the bath temperature and volume of gas in the syringe. (Tip: This will take
at least 5 minutes, during which you can set up for the next step.)
Volume of gas at room temperature:
1. While the syringe is equilibrating in the ice bath (above), fill a 1-L beaker to within 3 cm of the
rim with room temperature tap water and add a stirring bar. (Tip: Save time by using a mix of
cold and hot water to adjust temperature.)
2. Place the beaker on a stirring hot plate and turn on the stirring motor, increasing its speed until you
observe a shallow vortex in the surface of the water. (Important: Make sure the heat is turned
OFF at this point.)
3. Clamp the syringe tip-down as far down as possible in the water bath. Place a thermometer in the
bath and clamp it in place. (Important: Neither the syringe nor the thermometer should touch the
beaker.)
4. Observe the syringe for volume changes. (Tip: Flick the syringe to ensure accurate volume
readings.)
5. When the syringe has reached thermal equilibrium with the water bath, as evidenced by cessation
in volume change, record the bath temperature and volume of gas in the syringe.
Volume of gas at temperatures at elevated temperature:
1. This will utilize the water bath setup you used for the room temperature volume test above.
2. Adjust the heat setting on the hot plate to a moderate setting (3-5 should suffice) and heat with
continuous stirring until the temperature has increased by about 10oC.
3. Turn off the heat and continue stirring until the temperature stabilizes (usually within 1 min).
4. Gently flick the syringe and record the volume and temperature.
5. Repeat Steps 2-4, increasing the temperature in ~10C intervals up to 85-90C recording the
stabilized temperature and volume at each interval.
6. Hint: If you are unsure of the quality of your volume vs. temperature plot, think of a way to use
the now-hot water bath to quickly check your results. If you do this, be sure to record these results
as well.
7. After recording your final temperature and volume, remove the syringe from the bath and allow it
to cool to room temperature. Empty the syringe by ejecting the gas in the fume hood.
Focus Question 1: What is the relationship between gas volume and temperature in C at fixed
pressure and amount of gas? (HINT: construct an appropriate plot.)
Focus Question 2: Can you use your data from Part 1 to estimate absolute zero in C? (HINT: use the
plot from Focus Question 1.)

Part 2: Relationship of mass of a given volume of different gases to molar mass:

Known Gases:
1. Determine the mass of the empty 60 mL plastic syringe (be sure to wear gloves) as follows:

1.1. Push the plunger completely in and place the small septum cap over the syringe tip.
1.2. Draw the plunger out until the hole in the plunger is exposed and insert the nail in the hole
1.3. Weigh the syringe + nail to the nearest 0.0001 g on an analytical balance; record the mass.
Focus Question 3: Why is it important to withdraw the plunger to the 60-mL mark before weighing the
empty syringe (i.e., why can't the syringe be weighed with the plunger all the way in)?
2. Fill the syringe with helium by drawing the gas into the syringe until the hole on the plunger stem
is just exposed. Insert the nail, and push in the plunger until the nail is firmly lodged against the
top of the syringe barrel.
3. Place the septum cap on the tip of the syringe and weigh the assembly to the nearest 0.0001 g on
an analytical balance. Record the mass.
4. Empty the syringe into the fume hood.
5. Re-weigh the empty syringe as described in steps 1.1 1.3 above.
6. Repeat Steps 2-5 once more for helium
7. Repeat steps 2-6 using nitrogen and argon.
Focus Question 4: Illustrate the relationship between molar mass of a gas and the mass of a given
volume of that gas by construct a working curve using your data for the three known gases (i.e., plot
mass of gas or density of gas versus molar mass for the three known gases).
Unknown Gases:
1. Re-weigh the empty syringe as described in steps 1.1 1.4 above.
2. Fill the syringe with Unknown gas 1, and weigh as described for the known gases. Record the
mass.
3. Empty the syringe by ejecting the gas in the fume hood and repeat steps 1-2 with Unknown gas 1
4. Repeat steps 1-3 with Unknown gas 2twice more and record the average mass from all three trials.
Focus Question 5: Use your working curve (Focus Question 4) to determine the molar masses of the
two unknown gases and use those molar masses to propose an identity for each unknown.

Part 3: Relationship of Volume to Pressure

1. Inside diameter of the barrel of the 60-mL plastic syringe will be provided to you in the lab.
2. Fill the plastic syringe to capacity (60 mL) with one of the known gases (He, N2 or Ar) and cap off
the syringe with a septum cap.
3. Record the volume of gas to the nearest 0.1 mL using the graduations on the syringe.
4. Place the end of the syringe plunger flush against the surface of a bathroom scale.
5. Using your left hand to hold the septum cap on the end of the syringe, use your right hand to push
the syringe against the scale until the volume of the gas has decreased by 5-10 mL from the initial
value.
6. Record the gas volume and the weight registered by the scale.
7. Repeat steps 3-6, but press hard enough to decrease the volume 5-10-mL further than the first
time. Record the gas volume and weight registered by the scale after each repetition.
8. Repeat steps 3-7, compressing the volume a further 5-10 mL than the previous iteration. At least 5
more times, recording the volume and weight at each iteration.
9. Empty the syringe by ejecting the gas in the fume hood.
Focus Question 6: What is the relationship between gas volume and pressure at fixed temperature and
amount of gas?
HINTs: Construct an appropriate plot, keeping in mind the following considerations:
The applied pressure is equal to the product of the force applied (weight measured by the
scale) times the cross-sectional area of the interior of the syringe barrel. The TA will provide
you with the information needed to calculate the cross-sectional area.
The total pressure of the gas is the sum of the atmospheric pressure plus the applied pressure.

Part 4: Relationship of Volume to Amount of Gas (i.e. Mass)

1. Weigh an empty 60-mL plastic syringe + nail on an analytical balance using the method of Part 2,
steps 1.1 1.3.
2. Fill the syringe to the 60-mL mark with either N2 or Ar. Insert the nail, and push in the plunger
until the nail is firmly lodged against the top of the syringe barrel.
3. Place the septum cap on the tip of the syringe and weigh the assembly to the nearest 0.0001 g on
an analytical balance. Record the mass.
4. Remove the nail, eject 10 mL of the gas into the hood and re-seal the syringe with the septum.
5. Pull the plunger out to 60 mL, insert the nail stop, and reweigh the assembly. Record gas volume
to the nearest 0.1 mL and total mass to the nearest 0.0001 g.
6. Repeat Steps 4-5, ejecting an additional 10 mL gas in each iteration, until the volume is about 10
mL.
7. Empty the syringe by ejecting the gas in the fume hood.
Focus Question 7: What is the relationship between gas volume and amount of gas at fixed applied
pressure and temperature? (HINT: construct an appropriate plot.)
Focus Question 8: Does either of the relationships from parts 2 and 3 change when a different amount
of gas is used? If so, how?
Focus Question 9: Does any relationship change when a different gas is used? If so, how?

Clean-up.

Clean glassware by recommended procedures. Leave upside-down in your hood to drain.

Disassemble the syringes. Clean if necessary
Wipe up your lab bench and hood. Replace paper towels if dirty.
Return all borrowed equipment to the TA / instructor before leaving lab.

Preparation Questions: Find Preparation Questions in the lab materials folder in

myWPI