CM3131 Foundations in Chemistry III

Experiment 3 Planning Task

Name ANSWERS

Mentor Group 2 0 3 0 Experiment, Explore, Excel

Date

Objective

Design a 3-minute Countdown Timer

Description of the Task

Chemists want to understand how to change the rate of a reaction. This may be essential in
industry when considering the economics of a manufacturing process. Understanding the rates of
chemical reactions is also important for controlling reactions in industry.

In this experiment, you are going to investigate how the speed of a reaction is affected by the
concentration of the reactant. The equation for this reaction is

2Al (s) + 3CuCl2 (aq) → 2AlCl3 (aq) + 3Cu (s)

Guiding Question

What is the mixing proportion (volume) of copper(II) chloride solution and water needed to
achieve a 3-minute countdown timer?

Apparatus and Materials

50 mL Measuring cylinder (x2) Stopwatch

250 mL beaker (x2) Graph paper
Glass rod

Chemicals

copper(II) chloride solution (150 mL) Aluminium foil baking cups (x3)
D.I. water
CM3131 Foundations in Chemistry III

Rubric for assessment

Areas What this mean? Weightage

(%)
Knowledge and Thinking
1 Plan investigations,  Outline an experimental procedure to 30
select techniques, investigate the question
apparatus and  Appropriate use of apparatus
materials  Labelled diagram of experimental set-up

2 Record observations  Present all information in an appropriate 30

and measurements. form
 Present all quantitative data to an
appropriate number of decimal places/
significant figures

3 Interpret and  Analyse and interpret data or observations 30

evaluate appropriately in relation to the task
observations and  Draw conclusion(s) from the interpretation of
experimental results experimental data or observations

4 Evaluate methods to  Identify ONE source of error 10

identify sources of  Explain how it affects the accuracy and
errors reliability of results

Attitudes and Values

5 Risk assessment and  Safety procedures observed consistently
safe performance of  Wear goggles and gloves (when needed)
the method  Equipment is used appropriately
 Awareness of safety for others working in the
lab displayed
penalty
6 Environmental  Proper disposal of waste
consciousness  Effort in reducing wastage of chemicals, water
and other resources

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CM3131 Foundations in Chemistry III

Your Task

1. Plan investigation, select techniques, apparatus and materials.

Suggested steps to get started

 Place the metal cake cup on the mouth of the beaker. Check that it sits well in the beaker.
 Measure 50 mL of CuCl2
 Transfer the measured volume of CuCl2 into the aluminium cup and start the stopwatch.

Tip: Dilution can be achieved by varying the volumes of CuCl2 and H2O, keeping the total
volume of solution constant.

2. Carry out your plan and record observations and measurements.

3. Interpret and evaluate observations and experimental results

4. Evaluate methods to identify ONE source of error and explain how it affects the accuracy and
reliability of results

Investigation Sheet

(A) The Guiding Question:

What is the mixing proportion (volume) of copper(II) chloride solution and water needed to
achieve a 3-minute countdown timer?

(B) Plan investigations, select techniques, apparatus and materials

Write your procedure

1. Place the metal cake cup on the mouth of the beaker.

2. Measure 50 mL of CuCl2 using a measuring cylinder
3. Transfer the measured volume of CuCl2 into the aluminium cup and start the
stopwatch.
4. Stop the stopwatch when all (or when no more) of CuCl2 falls through the aluminium
cup into the beaker below.

5. Measure 30 mL CuCl2 and 20 mL water. Transfer to a beaker and mix well.

6. Transfer the measured volume of CuCl2 into the aluminium cup and start the
stopwatch.
7. Stop the stopwatch when all (or when no more) of CuCl2 falls through the aluminium
cup into the beaker below.

8. Repeat steps 5 to 7, using 10 mL CuCl2 and 40 mL water

9. Plot a graph of time taken for all the solution to flow into the beaker against volume of
CuCl2.

[1] Clear and systematic procedure

[1] Essential steps (1 to 5) are included.
[1] Apparatus used: measuring cylinder and stopwatch
[1] Constant: Total volume of mixture (e.g. 50 mL)

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CM3131 Foundations in Chemistry III

Draw your experimental set-up

Aluminium baking cup

stopwatch

beaker

[1] diagram of the experimental set-up

[1] labelled diagrams

(C) Record observations and measurements

Volume of CuCl2 / mL Volume of water / mL Time taken / s

50.0 0.0 75
40.0 10.0 120
20.0 30.0 234

Record data
[1] Table format
[1] Headings with units
[1] Volume (1 decimal place) + time (nearest seconds)

Graph
[1] Labelled axes with units
[1] Accurate plotting of data
[1] Best fit line

Y axis: Time taken/s (dependent variable)

X axis: Volume of CuCl2 used/ml or

Volume of H2O used/ml or
Concentration/% (independent variable)

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CM3131 Foundations in Chemistry III

(D) Interpret and evaluate observations and experimental results

Speed of reaction increases with increase in concentration of CuCl2 solution

[2] Draw conclusion(s) from the interpretation of experimental data.

To achieve 3-minute timer, mixing proportion is ______ mL CuCl2 and _____ mL H2O

[2] Answers the guiding question to state the mixing proportion (volume) of copper(II)
chloride solution and water needed to achieve a 3-minute countdown timer.

[2] Show workings on how to obtain the mixing proportion using graph

(E) Evaluate methods to identify ONE source of error and explain how it affects the accuracy
and reliability of results

[2] Identify source of error and explain how it affects the accuracy and reliability of
results (i.e. specific to the task).

Identify Error Explanation Specific to

the task
Difficult to determine when all the Time taken is not accurate Yes
liquid fell through the baking cup

Thickness of aluminium foil is Holes of different sizes are Yes

inconsistent at the base and the side. created which affects the flow
rate

3 data points may not sufficient to More data is needed to improve Yes
obtain a reliable trend the accuracy of the best fit line
drawn in the graph.

Partial credit for general source of errors includes

 Parallax error
 Human error
 Human reaction time

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CM3131 Foundations in Chemistry III

Note: If question is phrased to Evaluate methods and suggest ONE possible improvement

Evaluate Method Improvement

Difficult to determine when all the liquid Record first drop of CuCl2 into the beaker
fell through the baking cup hence time instead.
taken is not accurate

3 data points may not sufficient to obtain a More cups to be provided to obtain more
reliable trend data. This improves the accuracy of the best
fit line drawn in the graph.

Thickness of aluminium foil is inconsistent Use aluminium cups of similar thickness for
at the base and the side. all the surfaces.

Fogging of the beaker when heat is Raise the aluminium cup slightly above the
produced during the reaction. This results beaker to reduce the effect of fogging.
in unclear vision to observe the flow of
CuCl2.

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Time taken / s Graph of time taken/s against volume of CuCl2/ml used
250
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0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Volume of CuCl2 used / ml