University of South Carolina

CHEM 141 Fall 2021

Name(s):______________________________________________________________________

Section:__________________________
Laboratory 3: Stoichiometry
Table 1. Materials
Unknown Cu sample HCl (12 M) zinc metal

Objectives:
1. Calculate a theoretical yield given a balanced chemical equation and specified amounts of
starting material.
2. Determine the percent yield from experimental data and a calculated theoretical yield.
3. Calculate percent error from experimental data and a given accepted value.
4. Use dimensional analysis and unit conversions to determine the mass of a product, given the
amounts of reactants.

References:
Tro, N.; Chemistry: Structure and Properties, 5nd ed., Pearson Education, Inc, 2020.
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 100th Edition, Editor-in-Chief: John R. Rumble,
http://hbcponline.com/faces/contents/ContentsSearch.xhtml (Internet: Accessed, 09/10/2019)

Introduction:
Often we need to know how much of a given substance will be consumed or produced in a
reaction. At other times we need to know how much of a substance was originally present before
it has reacted with other chemicals. If we know the stoichiometry of reactions, we can answer
questions such as these after making a few measurements in the lab.
Recently the University of South Carolina was contacted by Gamecock Mining Company.
They had just acquired a new company Rocky Mountain Mining and Chemicals. During an
inspection of one of the plants Gamecock Mining inspectors noticed a large chemical waste
dump behind the main building. When asked what was dumped there and they were told, "It's
just always been there." Since the plant was located in an arid environment, these chemicals sat
there largely undisturbed. However, thinking that this chemical dump represented either a big
environmental clean-up problem or a potential source of profits, Gamecock Mining requested
help in identifying the composition of the waste materials.

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CHEM 141 Fall 2021
A quick analysis by a graduate student was able to identify the substances as CuSO4•5H2O
and NaCl. However, because of limited time, they were unable to determine the percent
composition of the mixture - a task now assigned to you. Meanwhile, Gamecock Mining
Company, having learned the identities of the chemicals, assigned one of their chemical
engineers to determine the economic viability of copper recovery from the mixture. He found
that a minimum percent composition of 10% copper metal by mass would make this mixture a
source of profits. If the percentage is less than 10% copper the cost of extraction would be too
expensive. Which will it be?
To answer the question you will be given approximately ten grams of the mixture. Your first
instinct is to find some way to separate the CuSO4•5H2O from the NaCl and then weigh them
separately to find the percent composition. Unfortunately, a quick check of the Handbook of
Chemistry and Physics reveals that both are readily soluble in water, and there appears to be no
easy method to affect a physical separation. However, you know that many chemical reactions
are performed in solution, so you decide to dissolve both salts in water.
Next, since you are primarily interested in copper, an ideal procedure would allow isolation of
all the copper from the other substances in the solution. You recall seeing a displacement
reaction: CuSO4(aq) + Zn(s) → ZnSO4(aq) + Cu(s), which might do what you want. But you
realize that to get all the copper out of the solution you must use excess zinc and therefore your
product (precipitate) will contain both solid copper and solid zinc.
Unfortunately, a mixture of copper and zinc will not allow you to weigh the copper alone.
So, you scratch your head while leaning back in your recliner chair when suddenly an idea
propels you into an upright position as effectively as the entrance of an upperclassman into your
room. “Of course,” you say, “in high school we made hydrogen in class by dissolving zinc in
hydrochloric acid.” The excess Zn(s) could be converted to soluble ZnCl2(aq)! However, the
inspiration begins to fade as you slump back into the chair wondering if the acid would also react
with the copper to form a soluble copper salt.
After a little research into the activity of copper metal, you decide that the copper would
not react with hydrochloric acid. You decide to use that reagent as the next step in isolation of
the copper. You think, “But wait, I still can’t weigh the copper - it’s still in all that water and
even if I boil the water away it will leave behind zinc chloride and sulfate salts.” After rereading
Chapter 1.2 of the textbook you decide to decant the aqueous solution and rinse the precipitate
with distilled water.
A sense of calm engulfs you as you again recline in your chair thinking, “All that remains is
to heat the precipitate to drive off the remaining water, cool the beaker plus copper, and then
weigh it!” Heating the copper will oxidize all of the copper to copper (II) oxide. Your vast
knowledge of stoichiometry allows you to calculate the amount of copper. This becomes your
plan for the experiment.

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University of South Carolina
CHEM 141 Fall 2021
Procedure:
1. Weigh a 150 mL beaker.

2. Weigh out approximately 6.2 g of the unknown CuSO4 and NaCl mixture. Record the
exact weight of the mixture. You will need the final mass of your dried sample (which
will be crusted onto the bottom of the beaker in step 5). Caution, you must weigh your
beaker first.

3. Add the mixture to your beaker along with a stirbar. Dissolve using 60 mL of DI water
and light stirring.

4. Once all of the mixture in the beaker has dissolved, add the zinc powder to the beaker.
Add the least amount of zinc possible (~1.5 grams) while ensuring there is excess zinc
present in the final mixture. Stir the solution until the reaction is complete (5 – 10
minutes).

5. Look for a color change in the zinc. Once you see mostly copper metal precipitate and
only a small amount of zinc left, add 30 mL of 12M HCl. DO NOT BREATHE THE
FUMES! Caution this is highly concentrated acid, use in the hood. Carefully add the acid
to your sample and stir the solution until the reaction is complete (15-20 minutes). If
necessary, add an additional 5-10 mL of acid.

6. Let stir until all unreacted zinc has dissolved.

7. Carefully decant the liquid off of the copper precipitate into a waste container. Keep the
precipitate in the beaker and wash 3 times using DI water. Add these washings to the
waste container.

8. Using the hot plate set to 9, drive off all remaining water for at least 15 minutes.

9. Remove the beaker from the hot plate and let cool to room temperature.

10. Weigh the beaker and calculate the mass of the remaining solid.

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CHEM 141 Fall 2021
Data Call: Record the following information as directed by your Graduate Teaching Assistant.
a. Initial mass of the sample
b. Final mass of the product ([beaker + product] - beaker)

When you have completed all experimental procedures:

a. Scrape the beaker and dispose of the solid waste into the solid waste container. Place the
dirty beaker in the hood.
b. Pour the aqueous waste into the aqueous waste container.
_________________________________________________________________________
Calculations & Equations (25 pts)
When reporting chemical reactions or mathematical equations, use Microsoft™ equation editor
or another equation editor is optional; neat handwriting is acceptable. Regardless of format, be
mindful of the details (e.g. state symbols, subscripts, element symbols, etc.)

1. Write the displacement reaction between zinc and copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate.

2. Write the chemical reaction between zinc and hydrochloric acid which changes excess zinc
into a soluble form and releases hydrogen gas.

3. Write the chemical reaction between copper and oxygen to produce the final product.

4. Show calculations to determine the:

a. Amount (in grams) of copper (Cu) in the original mixture (experimental yield).
b. Experimental mass of CuSO4•5H2O in the original mixture
c. Experimental mass percent of CuSO4•5H2O in the original mixture.
d. Percent of copper (Cu) (by mass) in the original mixture
e. Theoretical yield for copper (Cu) using the actual mass percent value
f. Percent yield of copper (Cu) (between the experimental and theoretical yield of copper)
g. Percent error between the experimental CuSO4•5H2O mass percent and actual mass percent
for both your group’s data and your section’s data (provided by instructor via email after
lab).

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University of South Carolina
CHEM 141 Fall 2021
5. Based on your results, should the Gamecock Mining Company extract the copper from this
mixture? Given the experimental tools available to you in this lab and your level of expertise,
how confident are you in making this recommendation? Briefly explain.

6. When you were heating your precipitate to drive off the water, a chemical transformation
occurred converting the copper metal to copper (II) oxide. Using the section on physical
constants for inorganic compounds in the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
(http://hbcponline.com/faces/documents/04_02/04_02_0001.xhtml), how could you tell that you
had copper (II) oxide and not copper(I) oxide?

7. If you formed copper(I) oxide in addition to copper (II) oxide, would this change your final %
copper in the mixture, and if so, how (increase, decrease, no change)? Explain.