SUBJECT CODE

: SK0013 CHEMISTRY

PRACTICAL NO.

: 02

TITLE

: DETERMINATION OF THE FORMULA

UNIT OF A COMPOUND

GROUP MEMBERS :

Aisyah Firzanah Binti Abd Malik

(FS11110019)
(Group 1)

Nursakinah

Najwah

Binti

Suhaimi (FS11110003)
Muhammad

Aiman

Bin

Osman

(FS11110111)
Meidin Bin Mantedan (FS11110012)
DATE OF PRACTICAL

: 20/06/2011

DEMONSTRATOR

: Encik Mohd. Hafiz Bin Abd. Maid

EXPERIMENT 2: DETERMINATION OF THE FORMULA UNIT

OF A COMPOUND

Objectives
1. To synthesise zinc chloride compound.
2. To determine the formula unit of zinc chloride.

Introduction
One of the main properties of a compound is its chemical
composition which can be identified simply by determining the elements
present. Although qualitative analysis is very useful, chemists also need to
know the quantitative aspect of the compound. A quantitative analysis
can be used to determine the composition of an unknown compound.
Once the composition of the compound is known, its formula unit can be
determined. For example, a compound containing 0.1 mole of silver and
0.1 mole of bromine will have a formula unit of AgBr.
In this experiment, you will prepare a simple compound of zinc and
chloride. Once the mass of zinc and the mass of the compound are known,
the mass of chlorine can be determined. Using these masses, the
percentage composition of the product can be determined and the
formula unit can be calculated.

Apparatus
Hot plate, glass rod, white tiles, measuring cylinder (10mL), analytical
balance, crucible tongs.

Chemical reagents
6M HCl, Zinc powder.
Procedure
1. The crucible is weighed and the exact mass is recorded.
2. Approximately 0.25 g of zinc placed into the crucible. The crucible
weighed with its contents and the exact mass of zinc is determined.
3. 10 mL of 6M HCl solution is added carefully into the crucible
containing the zinc powder and the contents is gently stirred using a
glass rod. A vigorous chemical reaction occurred and hydrogen gas
was released.
Precaution: This step is carried out in a fume cupboard. A
fire source is kept away because wet hydrogen gas can
cause explosions.
4. When the zinc powder has not dissolved completely, 5 mL of 6M HCl
is added at a time until all of the zinc is dissolved. The amount of
acid used cannot exceed 20 mL.
5. The crucible placed on a hot plate in the fume cupboard and the
content slowly heated so that the compound does not splatter
during the heating process.
6. The compound is gently heated until it is completely dry and is
ensured not to melt.
7. The crucible is allowed to cool to room temperature then it is
weighed.
8. The crucible is reheated and kept to cool in room temperature then
it is weighed again. This procedure is repeated until the difference in
mass does not exceed
0.02 g.

9. The mass of zinc chloride is determined from the final weight of the
sample and the mass of chlorine in the zinc chloride is calculated.
10.

The formula unit of zinc chloride is calculated.

Results:
Mass of crucible, v (g)
Crucible

content

powder), w (g)

25.6
(zinc

25.85

Mass of zinc, x (g)

0.25

Mass of zinc chloride, y (g)

26.1

Mass of chlorine, z (g)

0.25

Observations:
1. When HCl is poured into the crucible content zinc powder, bubble
gas was released and grey solution was formed.
2. While heated, the grey solution become clear and then turned
yellow.
3. Hydrogen gas was released while the heating process (until solution
is almost dry).
4. After heated for about 2 hours, white precipitate was formed.

Discussion:
1. The reason why the content is not weighed while it is still hot
because it is always poor laboratory procedure to weigh something
when it is still hot because the hot object will radiate heat in the
form of convection currents in the air above the scale. This will alter
the air pressure above the object unpredictably and produce
unstable readings of the object being massed.
2. When the suspension of zinc and hydrochloric acid was heated, a
white gas was released. This gas is hydrogen gas. The heating
process was done in a fume chamber because hydrogen gas is
flammable and may cause an explosion.
3. Based on the result, the equation for the reaction between zinc and
Hal is :
Zn(s) + 2HCl(l) H2(g) + ZnCl2(s)
4. Mass of zinc, x (g) = w v
5. Mass of chlorine, z (g) = y w
6. To calculate formula unit of zinc chloride:

Mass
Number of
moles
Ratio

Simplest whole
ratio

Zinc, Zn

Chlorine, Cl

0.25g

0.25g

0.25g/ 65.4 g mol-

0.25g / 35.45 g mol-

= 3.823 x 10-3

= 7.052 x 10-3

3.823 x 10-3 / 3.823 x 7.052 x 10-3 / 3.823 x 1010-3

=1

1.845
2

 So, the formula unit of zinc chloride is ZnCl2

Conclusion:
By conducting this experiment, we were able to synthesise zinc powder to
become zinc chloride by mixing it with acid and then heating it. Furthermore, we
were also able to determine the formula unit of zinc chloride, which is ZnCl 2. The
equation of the reaction:
Zn(s) + 2HCl(l) H2(g) + ZnCl2(s)