CHM2106 2021-2022 Virtual Lab

University of Guyana
Department of Chemistry
CHM 2106 – Laboratory 4: Inorganic Chemistry and Thermodynamics

Inorganic Lab 2: Method of Continuous variation to determine the formula of a precipitate

Data sheet/Graph/Question

Data sheet: Copy and complete the following Data table

Volume of Volume of Mass of Mole fraction Mole fraction
0.18 M 0.15 M precipitate/ g of A of B
solution A/ml solution B/ ml
1.00 19.00 0.054 0.06 0.94
2.00 18.00 0.140 0.12 0.88
3.00 17.00 0.162 0.17 0.83
4.00 16.00 0.230 0.23 0.77
5.00 15.00 0.270 0.29 0.71
6.00 14.00 0.324 0.34 0.66
7.00 13.00 0.300 0.39 0.61
8.00 12.00 0.280 0.44 0.56
9.00 11.00 0.250 0.50 0.50
10.00 10.00 0.230 0.55 0.45
11.00 9.00 0.200 0.59 0.41
12.00 8.00 0.165 0.64 0.36
13.00 7.00 0.160 0.69 0.31
14.00 to 6.00 0.150 0.74 0.26
15.00 5.00 0.110 0.78 0.22
16.00 4.00 0.100 0.83 0.17
17.00 3.00 0.068 0.87 0.13
18.00 2.00 0.040 0.92 0.08
19.00 1.00 0.023 0.96 0.04
Graph

Use the data table to plot the mass of precipitate (y-axis) vs the mole fraction of A (x-axis).By
hand, draw two best-fit lines on your graph; one for the side with a positive gradient and the
ther for the side with a negative gradient. The intersection of the lines is the apex
corresponding to the optimum mole fractions of A and B. Hence, determine the formula of the
hypothetical molecule AxBy (rounded to the nearest whole number ratio).

From the graph, the point of intersection of the two lines is at the molefraction
of A = 0.33 which is equal to 1/3

so the molefraction of B at this point = 1 - 1/3 = 2/3

Hence moles of A : moles of B = 1/3 : 2/3

                                              = 1 :2mole of A / mole of B = 1/2

Question: Provide a brief answer (~200 words) to the question(s) below:

What is meant by the term “supernatant”? Why was the supernatant discarded?

After precipitation, the clear liquid that lies above the solid residue is known as the
supernatant. When two transparent solutions A and B were mixed together, the
chemicals A and B interacted to generate an insoluble molecule AB2 as a precipitate.
A (aq) + 2B (aq)   AB2 (s). As a result, the precipitate AB2 will remain as a. While
we want to know the mass of the precipitate, we must take only the precipitate. Hence the
supernatant is discarded solid residue in the reaction mixture, over which the unreacted
reagents will be in solution.