Conservation of Mass Lab Report

By: Travis Bertram

Partner: Cade Dering

Lab Section: 56

November 14, 2019

Abstract: The purpose of this lab was to make copper metal into multiple different copper-
containing compounds, and then end up with copper metal again. This was done over the course

of five different chemical reactions. The initial mass of the solid copper was 0.505 grams and the

recovered mass of copper after the five experiments was 0.455 grams. The percent recovery was

calculated to be 90.09%, and the percent relative error was 9.9%.

Introduction: The Law of Conservation of Mass states that the mass of copper should be the

same before and after the experiment. Through the five reactions, the copper was turned into

multiple different copper-containing compounds. These reactions also caused reactions that

changed the color of the solution, the temperature, and created some gases. The final mass of the

copper should have been the same as the starting mass to follow the Law of Conservation of

Mass.

Equations Used:

Final Mass
Percent Recovered= ∗100
Initial Mass

Initial Mass−Final Mass

Percent Relative Error= ∗100
Initial Mass

Data:

Table 1: Copper Mass

Initial Mass of Copper: 0.505g
Recovered Mass of Copper: 0.455g
Percent Copper Recovered: 90.09%
Percent Relative Error: 9.90%

This table shows the initial and final mass of copper in grams. It also shows the percent

recovered and relative error percentage.

Sample Calculations:

0.455
Percent of Copper Recovered: ∗100=90.09 %
0.505

0 .505−0.455
Percent Relative Error: ∗100=9.90 %
0.505
Conclusion: According to the Law of Conservation of Mass, the final recovered mass of the

copper should be the same as the initial mass of copper, however, the initial mass in this

experiment was 0.505g and the final mass was 0.455g. The 0.05g was lost sometime during the

five reactions. This made our copper recovered 90.09% and our relative error to be 9.90%.

Possible sources of error could come from losing some copper during decanting the solution, or

if a reaction was not fully completed during the experiment. These errors could be minimized by

taking more time to decant the solution or by using precise amounts of reagents for the reactions.

Some loss of mass is expected when undergoing chemical reactions, so the recovered mass of

copper was expected to be less than the initial mass of copper.

Post Lab Questions:

Reaction 1:

4 HN O 3 (aq)+Cu( s)→ Cu¿

2+ ¿ ( aq )+ 2 H2 O(l) ¿
+¿ ( aq ) +2 N O3 −( aq ) →2 N O2 ( g) +Cu ¿
Cu ( s )+ 4 H

Redox Reaction

Reaction 2:

Cu¿

2+ ¿(aq)→Cu ¿¿

2 O H −¿ (aq )+C u ¿

Displacement reaction

Reaction 3:

Cu ¿
 Cu ¿

Decomposition reaction

Reaction 4:

CuO ( s ) + H 2 S O 4 ( aq ) →CuS O 4 ( aq )+ H 2 O(l)

2+ ¿ ( aq )+ H 2 O (l)¿

CuO ( s ) +2 H +¿ ( aq) →C u ¿

Acid-Base reaction

Reaction 5a:

CuS O4 ( aq )+ Zn ( s ) → Cu ( s ) + ZnS O4 (aq)

2+ ¿(aq)¿

C u2 +¿ ( aq)+ Zn (s ) →Cu ( s) +Z n ¿

Redox reaction

Reaction 5b:

Zn ( s ) +2 HCl ( aq ) → H 2 ( g ) +ZnC l 2 (aq)

2+ ¿(aq) ¿

Zn ( s ) +2 H +¿ ( aq) → H 2 ( g ) +Z n ¿

Single Displacement reaction