Lab 4B Moles of Iron and Copper

Purpose:
● To ascertain how many moles of copper are produced in the result made by the reaction
of Iron and Copper (II) Chloride
● To ascertain the amount of moles of Iron used up in the result made by the reaction of
Iron and Copper (II) Chloride
● To ascertain the ratio of moles of Iron to moles of copper in the reaction.
● To ascertain how many atoms and formula units are involved in the reaction.

Materials:
Apparatus Reagents
● Beakers (250 mL) ● Safety goggles ● Copper (II) Chloride

● Wash bottle ● Lab apron ● 2 Iron nails (approx. 5

● Stirring rod ● Plastic gloves ● 1M hydrochloric acid

● Crucible tongs ● Sandpaper or emery ● Distilled water

● Centigram balance ● Face shield

● Drying oven

Procedure:
1. Determine the mass of a 250 mL beaker and record the mass to the nearest 0.01 g. Before
measuring the mass make your beaker make sure it is clean, empty, and completely dry.
2. Add roughly 8 g of copper (II) chloride crystals to the beaker and then determine the mass.
After determining the mass of the crystals record the data in your notebook.
3. Add 50 mL of purified water to your beaker and actively swirl it around to dissolve the mixture
of all the copper (II) chloride crystals.
4. Secure two iron nails, making sure they are clean and dry. If the nails do not seem sufficiently
clean use a piece of sandpaper to achieve a shiny surface. Then proceed to determine the
mass of the nails and record the data in your notebook.
5. Then add your clean nails to the copper (II) chloride solution leaving it inside the mixture
undisturbed for roughly 20 min. Concurrently you should notice the formation of copper inside
the beaker. Amid the formation of copper, some of the iron will be used up.

6. Use a pair of tongs to cautiously pick up the nails from the beaker one at a time. In the case
that there is any remaining copper residue on the nails use a wash bottle containing purified
water to rinse them before finally removing the nails completely out of the beaker. Provided that
there is still remaining copper residue on the nails after rinsing, use a stirring rod to scrape the
excess copper off. Then put aside the nails to dry on a paper towel at your station.
7. After the nails have fully dried off redetermine the mass of the nail and record the new data in
your notebook.
8. The word Decant describes the action in which one only pours out the liquid from, their liquid
and solid mixture. Cautiously decant your mixture pouring the liquid into a separate beaker in
case you overpour you do not lose your solids down the drain. You can recover it from the
second beaker.
9. After decanting your mixture, rinse the solid a second time with roughly 25mL of purified
water. Then repeat decanting three to four more times to ensure the solid is thoroughly rinsed.
10. Afterward wash the solid with roughly 25mL of 1M hydrochloric acid and decant the solid
twice more with 25mL of purified water.
11. After final washing with distilled water, put the copper into a drying oven to dry completely.
12. Once completely dry, determine the mass of the beaker plus the copper and record the data
in your notebook.
13. Lastly ensure that you clean up all your materials from your station and wipe the station
down completely. Before leaving wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water; use a
fingernail brush to clean under your fingernails.

Safety:
● Make sure to thoroughly read and understand the instructions before starting or
proceeding with your lab.
● Clear lab bench from all materials that are unnecessary and not needed
● Tie away any loose hair away from the face and out of reach of any flames.
● Do not drink or eat during your lab or in anyone else’s lab area.
● When handling concentrated chemicals such as acids and bases make sure to wear
gloves as a precaution.

Data:
Balanced Chemical Reaction: Fe(s) + CuCl2 (aq) → Cu(s) + FeCl2 (aq)
 Before the reaction

Mass of empty, dry beaker (g)

Mass of beaker and CuCl2 (g)

Mass of two Fe nails (g)

After the reaction

Mass of two Fe nails (g)

Mass of beaker and dry Cu (g)

Calculation

Mass of Fe used (g)

Moles of Fe used (mol)

Molecules of Fe used (molecules)

Mass of Cu produced (g)

Moles of Cu produced (mol)

Molecules of Cu produced (molecules)

Experimental mole ratio between Fe and Cu

Theoretical mole ratio between Fe and Cu =

Observations:

● During the experiment in class, look for the following and record:
 ○ Colour of CuCl2 solution before the chemical reaction

○ Colour of Fe nails before the chemical reaction

○ Changes observed when CuCl2 and Fe nails are combined

○ Colour of the solution after 20 minutes

○ Colour of wet Cu after rinsing and decanting

○ Colour of dry Cu after dried in a room over a couple of days

Discussion:

1.Find the following masses by doing the appropriate subtractions:

a) Mass of iron used

b) Mass of copper (II) chloride used

c) Mass of copper produced

2. Find the number of moles of the following:

a) Moles of iron used

3.Find the number of atoms of each of the substances involved in the reaction.

a) Atoms of iron used

b) Atoms of copper produced

4. Calculate the ratio of moles of copper produced to moles of iron used.

5. Was there any evidence that some of the copper(II) chloride was left in the beaker? Explain.

6. Suppose that you have an unlimited supply of copper (II) chloride to react with the iron. How
many moles of copper would be produced by reacting 34.0g of iron with the copper(II) chloride
solutions?

7. How many moles of iron would have been used up if 45.0g of copper were to be produced?
8. How many atoms of copper would be involved in problem 7?

9. How many atoms of iron would be involved in problem 7?

10. How many grams of copper would be produced if 456 g of iron were reacted?

Conclusion:

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