SCI18 − Introduction to Chemistry

Supplementary Notes on Laboratory 2

Part A:

(1) The following shows you how to do the calculations for Sample No. 1.

• Mass of PbI2
m(PbI2) = m(dry filter & precipitate) – m(filter paper)
= 2.50 g – 1.56 g = 0.94 g

• Mole of Pb(NO3)2 given M(Pb(NO3)2) = 331.21 g/mol

331.21 g Pb(NO3)2 : 1 mol Pb(NO3)2
1.66 g Pb(NO3)2 : n = ? mol Pb(NO3)2
n(Pb(NO3)2) = (1 mol × 1.66 g) / 331.21 g = 5.011926 × 10−3 mol (available)

• Mole of NaI given M(NaI) = 149.89 g/mol

149.89 g NaI : 1 mol NaI
0.75 g NaI : n = ? mol NaI
n(NaI) = (1 mol × 0.75 g) / 149.89 g = 5.003669 × 10−3 mol (available)

• Mole of PbI2 given M(PbI2) = 461.01 g/mol

461.01 g PbI2 : 1 mol PbI2
0.94 g PbI2 : n = ? mol PbI2
n(PbI2) = (1 mol × 0.94 g) / 461.01 g = 2.039001 × 10−3 mol (experimental)

• Determine the limiting reagent/reactant (i.e. to find out which of the two reactants,
Pb(NO3)2 and NaI, is limiting) based on the mole ratio of the equation.

(There are different methods to solve limiting reagent questions. The following is an
example of these. In this method, the number of mole of the second reactant required to
react with all of the first reactant is calculated.
(i) If the result of the calculation is larger than the amount of the second reactant
available, it is limiting, i.e. the available amount of the second reactant is not
enough to react with all of the first reactant.
(ii) If the result of the calculation is smaller than the amount of the second reactant
available, it is in excess, i.e. the available amount of the second reactant is more
than enough to react with all of the first reactant. )

The net ionic equation is

Pb2+(aq) + 2 I−(aq) → PbI2(s)
This means that 1 mol Pb(NO3)2 reacts with 2 mol NaI
1 mol Pb(NO3)2 : 2 mol NaI
−3
5.011929 × 10 mol Pb(NO3)2 : n = ? mol NaI
n(NaI) = (2 mol × 5.011929 × 10−3 mol) / 1 mol = 10.023851 × 10−3 mol
(required/calculated)
There are 5.003669 × 10−3 mol NaI available but 10.023851 × 10−3 mol NaI required to react
with all Pb(NO3)2 so NaI is the limiting reagent.
 • Determine the theoretical amount of the product from the limiting reactant (i.e. to
calculate the mole and mass of PbI2 from mole of NaI*) based on the mole ratio of the
equation.
The above equation shows that 2 mol NaI gives with 1 mol PbI2.
2 mol NaI : 1 mol PbI2
−3
5.003669 × 10 mol NaI : n = ? mol PbI2
n(PbI2) = (1 mol × 5.003669 × 10 mol) / 2 mol = 2.501835 × 10−3 mol (theoritical)
−3

(* Note: Pb(NO3)2 can be limiting for some samples.)

• % Yield of PbI2
2.501835 × 10−3 mol PbI2 theoritical : 2.039001 × 10−3 mol PbI2 experimental.
100 mol PbI2 theoritical : n = ? mol PbI2 experimental.
n(PbI2) = (2.039001 × 10 mol × 100 mol) / 2.501835 × 10−3 mol = 81.500 mol
−3

∴% Yield of PbI2 is 82%.

(2) You will learn about equilibrium later in Study Block 9 so please do not worry so much if
you do not understand the following.

When Pb(NO3)2 is added to NaI, PbI2 precipitates until equilibrium is attained,

Pb2+(aq) + 2 I−(aq) PbI2(s)

At equilibrium, these three species, Pb2+(aq), I−(aq) and PbI2(s), are all present in the
system. The excess amount of either Pb2+(aq) or I−(aq) shifts the equilibrium to the right to
increase the formation of PbI2 till a new equilibrium is established. This process happens
again and again so the amount of PbI2 increases as those of Pb2+(aq) and I−(aq) decrease.
However, the limiting reagent can never reach zero and the yield cannot be exactly 100%.

It can be noted from the solubility product of PbI2, Ksp = [Pb2+] × [I−]2, that PbI2
precipitates when the product of [Pb2+] and [I−]2 is equal to Ksp. Since the concentration of
I− is squared, the yield is higher when I− is in excess, as seen in the result table.

Part B

BaCl2·2H2O is the formula (rather than the empirical formula) of hydrated barium chloride.
BaCl2·2H2O is barium chloride dihydrate.

In a desiccator there is a desiccant, usually a silica gel that absorbs moisture (water vapour) from
the atmosphere. The desiccator provides a dry environment to the cooling process and it minimizes
water being re-absorbed into the drying sample.

NOTE:
(i) aq means aqueous. An aqueous solution is a solution in which water is the solvent.
(ii) A hydrated compound is a compound in which water molecules are associated with
the ions of the compounds. For example hydrated cobalt(II) chloride, CoCl2·6H2O, is
a deep red solid that has six water molecules trapped in the lattice. When heated
hydrated cobalt(II) chloride turns deep blue because it loses water to form
anhydrous cobalt(II) chloride, CoCl2 (anhydrous means without water). On exposure

Notes on Laboratory 2 of SCI18 Online Laboratories p.2/3

Queries to LanChi via L.Koenigsberger@murdoch.edu.au
 to moist air, blue CoCl2 takes up water and is converted back into red CoCl2·6H2O.
This property allows crystals of the blue compound to be used as a humidity
indicator.

Notes on Laboratory 2 of SCI18 Online Laboratories p.3/3

Queries to LanChi via L.Koenigsberger@murdoch.edu.au