Daniella Ruotolo

Period 6
5/11/10

The reaction of Copper Sulfate and Aluminum

Introduction

The Law of Conservation of Mass states that mass can neither be created nor

destroyed in a chemical process. For a chemical process to occur there must be a force of

energy which sparks the reaction. This energy is called activation energy. Activation

energy is an important part in beginning the chemical reaction. When conducting

chemical reactions the products and reactants must be balanced by following the Law of

Conservation of Mass. Therefore, the mass of the reactants and the products will equal,

following the law. To calculate the amount of substance needed in a chemical reaction we

use moles. A mole is the molecular weight of a substance expressed in grams. Converting

the mass of molecules into moles the ratio of reactant to products can be confirmed.

The experiment consisted of mixing the solution of copper sulfate and aluminum.

The method of balancing equations was used to accurately measure the reactants and

products. This reaction lasted over a period of 17 minutes with constant changes in color

and temperature. By conducting this experiment the correct ratio to react copper sulfate

and aluminum completely can be found.

2Al + 3CuSo4  Al2 (So4)3 + 3Cu

Observation

When first conducting the experiment, the copper sulfate solution was a

transparent light blue color. When the reaction began the temperature slowly increased,

and bubbling and a red color appeared in the test tube. Over a period of sixteen minutes

the solution went from a light blue to grey, brown and a dark red. The reaction of a

sulfate lasted over seventeen minutes with constant bubbling and temperature changes.

Within 13 minutes the test tube reached extreme heat, steaming, bubbling and there was

no visible aluminum. At 15 minutes the reaction began slowing down and the

temperature of the test tube cooled. When the reaction was at 17 minutes the reaction had

nearly finished with charred aluminum on the bottom of the test tube. After the reaction

had completely finished the copper was recovered with no signs of aluminum.

Data Table

Description Mass, g

250ml Test Tube 31.22

250ml Test Tube & Copper Sulfate 39.41

Aluminum Foil 0.59

Filter Paper 2.40

Filter Paper & Copper 4.42

Calculations
 Description Result

Mass of Copper Sulfate 8.19

Moles of Copper Sulfate 0.0328
Moles of Aluminum Needed 0.0219
Grams of Aluminum Needed 0.0591
Theoretical Moles of Copper 0.0327
Theoretical Grams of Copper 2.08
Grams of copper recovered 2.02
Yield of copper 97.1%

Discussion

After the mixing of copper sulfate and aluminum, the conclusion that a reaction

had occurred can be said because the reactant is different from the product. Meaning

another substance has been formed. Also the color of the reactant was a light blue and

after the reaction took place the color was an opaque dark red. As for the activation

energy little was needed to start the reaction. When the aluminum was placed in the

copper sulfate no other energy was needed to start the reaction. From the various

temperature increases they indicate that the reaction was exothermic. An exothermic

reaction is one that releases energy in the form of heat.

The reaction was centered on the aluminum in the test tube. The copper sulfate

reaction caused oxidation on the aluminum foil. Oxidation is the combining of oxygen

with a substance which causes deposit to form on the surface of a metal. When at last the

experiment had been completely conducted and all the data was recorded it proved the
hypothesis stated. The ratio of aluminum to copper sulfate for them both to react

completely was found.

Error Analysis

There are many sources of error which could have occurred during the

experiment. The yield of copper at the end of the experiment was under 100 percent

meaning inaccuracy may have occurred in various steps. Although there where no signs

of aluminum the ratio between copper sulfate and aluminum was off. When the product

was filtered the remaining liquid had a slight blue tint. Meaning there was not enough

aluminum to react with the copper sulfate. Also the copper sulfate could have been

measure inaccurately making the ratio unequal between aluminum and copper sulfate.

While trying to retrieve the copper in the filter paper copper could have passed through

losing grams of copper. If measurement of the filter paper and copper was weighed

incorrectly the weight of the filter paper would be incorrect including any calculations

dealing with those numbers.