Experiment 7

TITLE:

Evaluation of the gas law constant.

OBJECTIVE(s):

 To study gas law.

 To experimentally determine and calculate the gas law constant, R.

INTRODUCTION:

In this experiment, common forms of matter which is gases, liquids and solids are utilize and are
able to explore the properties of the gases. Also the value of gas law constant, R, can be calculated
using PV = nRT, ideal gas law. P stands for pressure, V stands for volume, n is the amount of gas,
unit in mole, and T is absolute temperature. R is a proportionality constant that must be measured
experimentally and the units for R will depend on the units used for each of the variables in the
ideal gas law. Normally pressure will be in atmospheres, volume in liters, temperatures are in
kelvins. Theoretically, accepted value for the gas constant R is 0.0821 L·atm/mol·K.

The relationships between volume, pressure, and temperature are correlated. Summarization of
Boyle’s law and Charles’ law is that the volume of a particular gas is inversely proportional to its
pressure and volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature at constant pressure
respectively. Also the equation can be relate to Avogadro’s law as it postulate that the volume of
a gas is directly proportional to the number of gas molecules.

To simplify the overall experiment, it is a reaction between the magnesium metal with hydrochloric
acid, HCl, forming the hydrogen gas, H2. The hydrogen gas can be produce by treating a known
mass of magnesium metal with HCl. With known mass of magnesium metal and HCl providing a
way to measure the amount of H2 gas generated. From the known quantity of magnesium used and
the stoichiometry of reaction and the number of moles of hydrogen produce, the whole calculation
are way easier.

Mg (s) + 2 HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:

Barometer, copper wire, meter stick, 250mL beaker, Mg ribbon, 0.5M HCl.

METHODOLOGY:

1. 0.0142g of magnesium, Mg, ribbon was weighed.

2. The burette was then filled with 0.5M of HCl and the earlier weighed Mg ribbon was coiled
into the burette, 2 to 3 cm from the open end and the burette were immediately inverted
into 250mL beaker filled with water.
3. The temperature of the water were recorded.

RESULTS:

Initial weight of mg ribbon (g) 0.0142

Final weight of mg ribbon (g) 0.00093

Weight of mg ribbon reacted (g) 0.0133

Temperature (°C) 23

Pressure (mmHg) 21.1

Volume of H2 gas (𝑐𝑚3 ) 12.1

Volume of unknown (𝑐𝑚3 ) 4.2

CALCULATION:

Referring to the equation; the overall stoichiometry one mole of Mg gives one mole of H2 gas.

Mg (s) + 2 HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
I. No of mole of Mg = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠

0.0133𝑔
= 24.31𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙
 = 5.47 × 10−4 mol

II. Height difference: ;density of Hg = 13.5g/cm

𝑝1 × 𝑔1× ℎ1 = 𝑝2× 𝑔2× ℎ2
13.5g/cm × ℎ1 = 1g/cm × 503
ℎ1 = 37.26mmHg

III. 𝑃𝐻2 = 𝑃𝑎𝑡𝑚 - 𝑃𝐻20 - 𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒

= 760.00mmHg – 21.10mmHg – 37.26mmHg
= 701.64mmHg

IV. PV=nRT ; 701.64 mmHg = 0.9234atm ; 12.1𝑐𝑚3 = 0.012L ; 23 = 296K

𝑃𝑉
R = 𝑛𝑇
(0.9234𝑎𝑡𝑚)(0.012𝐿)
= (5.47×10−4 𝑚𝑜𝑙)(296𝐾)

= 6.91 × 10−2 L atm 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 𝐾 −1

V. Percentage of error:
 Theoretical value of R is 0.0821 L atm 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 𝐾 −1
 Calculated R value is 6.91 × 10−2 L atm 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 𝐾 −1

𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒−𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

× 100%
theoretical value

0.0821−6.91× 10−2
× 100% = 97.5 %
0.0821

Percentage of error is 15.8%.

DISCUSSIONS:

As known, the purpose of this experiment is to study the gas law, PV = nRT, and utilize it to obtain
the R value through calculation. Referring to the equation and the stoichiometry, “Mg (s) + 2 HCl
(aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)”, it can be known that 1 mol of magnesium, Mg, react with
hydrochloric acid, HCl, produce 1 mol of hydrogen gas, H2. Also, it can be seen that excess HCl is
used while the magnesium act as the limiting reactant. Magnesium is the limiting reactant as the
amount of product formed is limited by this reagent and the reaction cannot proceed further without
it. This shows that much of magnesium ribbon used up will be that much of hydrogen gas liberated;
larger mass of magnesium metal use to react with HCl, larger volume of H2 gas will be liberated.

In this experiment, when 0.0049g of Mg metal used up as they reacts with the HCl, 12.1 𝑐𝑚3 of
hydrogen gas is produced and the R value calculated to be 5.585 × 10−3 L atm 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 𝐾 −1. The
𝑃𝑉
volume of gas formed will eventually affect the value of R; equation rearranged to be R= 𝑛𝑇 .

The theoretical R value is 0.0821 L atm 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 𝐾 −1 and the experimental value is 5.585 × 10−3 L
atm 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 𝐾 −1. Comparing the theoretical and experimental R value, there is huge differences
between them and the percentage of error was determined to be 93.2%. There are few reasons why
the differences are large. One of it is due to presence of external element like oxides presence on
the magnesium ribbon surface and not properly wiped clean, thus the amount of the Mg react with
HCl is affected. Other than that, the amount of hydrogen gas released through the reaction may
escaped out the tube causing insufficient amount of H2 gas collected.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

1. What would be the effect (increase, decrease, or no change) on the calculated value of R of
each of the following experimental errors? Explain each answer.

a) The balance used to weigh the magnesium gives a mass that is higher than actual.
The higher the mass of magnesium, the higher the number of moles of magnesium (n). Therefore,
when the n is larger, the calculated value of gas constant, R will be smaller.

b) Some H2 escapes into the beaker during the reaction

If some of the hydrogen gas escaped into the beaker during the reaction, the volume of hydrogen
gas produced in the burette will be less and this will definitely result in smaller calculated value of
gas constant, R.
 c) The liquid level in the burette is lower than that in the beaker, but this is not taken into
consideration in the calculation.
If the liquid level in the eudiometer tube is lower than in the beaker, the pressure of hydrogen gas
liberated will be PH2 = Patm – PH2O – Plevel difference .

2. What two safety precautions should you take when using concentrated hydrochloric acid,
HCl?

Concentrated HCl are very corrosive and highly flammable. So it advised to wear gloves and wear
safety goggles before handling hydrochloric acid and if there is any exposure of HCl on skin or
body parts, quickly wash or rinse the affected body part with running tap water. Besides due to its
highly flammable property, HCl should be not exposed or keep near any apparatus that can ignite
flame or fire.

CONCLUSION:

One mole of magnesium that reacts with hydrochloric acid gives one mole of hydrogen gas.
Through calculation, gas law constant, R, is determined to be 5.585 × 10−3 L atm 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 𝐾 −1
comparing to theoretical value is 0.0821 L atm 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1 𝐾 −1. Therefore, the R value is dependable
on the volume of H2 gas collected.

REFERENCES:

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http://1chemistry.blogspot.com/2011/06/determination-of-valency-if-magnesium.html
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2. Helmenstine,A,M. (2018). Gas Constant (R) Definition. [Online]. Available at:

https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-gas-constant-r-604477 [Accessed on 15 June
2018].

3. Faculty.icc.edu. (n.d.). Evaluation of the Gas Law Constant. [Online]. Available at:
http://faculty.icc.edu/bcook/c130xp7.pdf [Accessed on 15 June 2018].
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[Accessed on 15 June 2018].

5. Keefer. (2015). Determination of the Gas Law Constant R – AP Chemistry Lab. [Online].
Available at: www.frontiernet.net/~jlkeefer/gas_R_constant.doc [Accessed on 15 June
2018].