LABORATORY REPORT EVALUATION SHEET

Laboratory Course: ENSC 111b Schedule: Tuesday, 2:00 – 3:30 PM

Experiment Number: 2
Experiment Title: Decomposing Potassium chlorate into Potassium chloride
and Oxygen by heating Manganese oxide as a Catalyst

Group Number: 3 Date Performed: September 13, 2022

Group Members: Glenn Boado Date Submitted: September 20, 2022
John Bryan Dave Bumatay
Norma Grace Maliwat
Jerome Mori
Cassandra Mosuela
Alejandro Luis Olarte
Sanrio Reyes
Angela Rivera

CONTENTS TOTAL REMARKS SCORE

POINTS
I. Chapter 1: Introduction 15
II. Chapter 2: Design and
15
Methodology
III. Chapter 3: Results and
25
Discussion
IV. Chapter 4: Conclusions 10
V. References 5
VI. Appendices
a. Definition of terms
b. List and Uses of
Apparatus
c. Documentation 25
d. Computations
e. Problems
f. Material Safety Data
Sheet
Format/ Neatness 5

TOTAL POINTS: 100 SCORE: _________

 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

CHAPTER I: BACKGROUND

Research Context and Aims. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

. . .

CHAPTER II: DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

Research Design and Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
. . .
CHAPTER III: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Results and Discussion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
. . .
CHAPTER IV: CONCLUSIONS
Conclusions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
. . .
CHAPTER V: REFERENCES

References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

. . .

CHAPTER VI: APPENDICES

A Definition of Terms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
. . .
B List and Uses of Apparatus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
. . .
C Documentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
. . .
D Computations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
. . .
E Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
. . .
F Material Safety Data Sheet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
. . .
 CHAPTER I

BACKGROUND

RESEARCH CONTEXT

Lab experiments promote intellectual development wherein we are required to

discover more about how things, even the small things around us, work. Being

engaged with new explorations or discoveries confers current views and opinions.

However, the views and opinions of the researcher should not affect the result of a

study (Dr. McLeod S., 2012).

Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph. D said that Chemical reaction is the most

important type of event in the universe. Moreover, when a chemical reaction is

observed, indeed new substances are formed that have different properties and

compositions. Chemical reactions are how new forms of matter are made

(Helmenstine A.M, 2019). As might be expected, it is our responsibility to observe,

for it's essential to science (University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato,

2019-2022). Exercising curiosity enables us to be in a productive state of science

activities as it lets us see the unexpected things around us that might stimulate our

interest, leading to new experiments (Krampf R., 2019).

According to Wikipedia, there are rules of nature and chemistry that are

related. And in the completed laboratory exercise, The Law of Definite Proportions is

the appropriate law to apply since its capable of illustrating a reliable method for

determining the precise weight or percentage of the desired ingredient in a

compound. Additionally, it provides helpful information for determining the chemical

 2

or molecular formula for a substance as well as the percentage of a molecule in an

unknown combination. To have accurate calculations and comparison in our

experiment, decomposition is a type of reaction to have to use the said law. This

chemical reaction occurs when one reactant breaks down into two or more products.

It can present as AB---> A+B (Brainard, J. Ph.D.). AB represents the reactant that

begins the equation, while A and B represent the products, and the arrow shows the

direction in which the reaction occurs.

RESEARCH AIMS

As mentioned previously, the experiment will start with the potassium chlorate

being broken down into potassium chloride and oxygen by having the manganese

oxide heated, as a catalyst to accelerate the process without being consumed. Due

to this, we can provide the reaction equation wherein the weight difference gives the

weight of oxygen in the compound. Concludingly, calculating and contrasting the

predicted and experimental % oxygen by weight for potassium chlorate is the

responsibility of this experiment. And comparison will reveal the experiment's

percent inaccuracy. The percentage of mistakes is calculated by multiplying the

absolute value of the error by the theoretical value.

 CHAPTER II

METHODOLOGY

RESEARCH DESIGN

In this study, the experimental research design is used to observe the

decomposition of potassium chlorate using potassium chloride and oxygen by

heating Manganese Oxide as a catalyst to speed up the reaction without being

consumed. The experimental research design is a method for investigating the

interaction of independent and dependent variables to establish a cause-and-effect

relationship. Theoretical research design is concerned with or involves a subject's or

area of study's theory rather than its practical application.

PROCEDURE

Drying the Catalyst

In a dry test tube, put a teaspoon of Manganese IV Oxide (MnO2) and then

heat the test tube to remove the moisture of the catalyst and its oxygen will go to the

atmosphere. After heating the test tube, put it in the beaker and wait for it until it

cooled. And then weigh it.

Decomposition Reaction

Add 2.052 g potassium chlorate (KClO3) into a test tube and then weigh

again. After that heat the test tube in a diagonal position for about 15 minutes. And

then the mixture will start melting, then produce gas strongly and finally solidify. After
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that, we heat again the test tube for additional 3 minutes. Then cool it down and

reweigh. Repeat the process until the weight is the same as the previous one.
 CHAPTER III

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A decomposition reaction happens when a compound breaks down into two or more

substances. Most decomposition reactions require an input of heat for it to take

place. This experiment is performed to decompose potassium chlorate into

potassium chloride and oxygen in the presence of manganese dioxide as a catalyst.

For this to happen a teaspoon of manganese dioxide is put in a dry test tube and is

heated for about 15 minutes. After it cools down, it is weighed which results to

18.816 grams. Potassium chlorate weighing 2.045 which will be decomposed is

added in the test tube with manganese dioxide, the mixture is weighed giving 20.861

grams as a result. Potassium chlorate when heated in the presence of manganese

dioxide, melted and as it is continuously heated it produced oxygen gas, the melted

mixture solidified. After cooling down, the test tube with mixture is weighed which

resulted to 20.052 grams. The mixture then again undergoes second heating for 3

minutes. After cooling down, it is weighed which resulted to 20.049 grams. After the

weighing of the test tube and contents after last heating, the results are 20.049

grams. Looking at the resulting weights of the mixture during the experiment, it can

be inferred that as the time of heating increases, the weight of the mixture

decreases. The weight decreases because oxygen gas is released to the

atmosphere upon heating the mixture. The oxygen given off while heating is

determined by subtracting the initial weight of the potassium chlorate and

manganese dioxide (20.861 grams) to the final weight of the mixture which is 20.049

grams. The weight of oxygen given off heating resulting to 0.812 grams. The
experimental % of oxygen heating results to 39.71% while the theoretical % of

oxygen by weight is 39.17%. As the accuracy of a measurement decreases, the

percent error of that measurement rises. Lastly, the amount of error that is

acceptable depends on the experiment, but the computed 1.38% percentage error is

within the margin of error of 10% thus it is considered as acceptable.

 CHAPTER IV

CONCLUSIONS

Chemical decomposition or chemical breakdown is the process or effect of

simplifying a single chemical entity into two or more fragments. Decomposition

reaction can take place when heat is applied. In this experiment being broken down

into potassium chloride and oxygen by having the manganese oxide heated, as a

catalyst to accelerate the process without being consumed. When the mixture is

heated a good amount of oxygen is released to the atmosphere. The oxygen given

off while heating is determined by subtracting the initial weight of the potassium

chlorate and manganese dioxide (20.861 grams) to the final weight of the mixture

which is 20.049 grams. The weight of oxygen given off heating resulting to 0.812

grams. While the oxygen gas is released, the potassium chloride is left in the test

tube and solidified. In conclusion, the law of definite proportions implies that a

chemical composition always has the same elements in the exact same mass

proportions.
 CHAPTER V

REFERENCES

BYJU’S. (2021, March 22). General Data Protection Regulation(GDPR)

Guidelines BYJU’S. BYJUS. Retrieved September 20, 2022, from

https://byjus.com/chemistry/decomposition-reaction/

The Importance of Observation | The Happy Scientist. (n.d.). Retrieved

September 18, 2022, from https://thehappyscientist.com/content/importance-

observation#:%7E:text=It%20lets%20us%20see%20unexpected,of%20what%20is

%20actually%20there

Law of definite proportions | Definition, Discovery, & Facts. (n.d.).

Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved September 20, 2022, from

https://www.britannica.com/science/law-of-definite-proportions

Mcleod, S. (n.d.). Experimental Methods in Psychology | Simply Psychology.

Retrieved September 18, 2022, from

https://www.simplypsychology.org/experimental-method.html

Ringo, J. (2022, March 31). A List of Chemistry Laboratory Apparatus and

Their Uses. Owlcation. Retrieved September 18, 2022, from

https://owlcation.com/stem/A-Chemistry-Guide-List-of-Common-Laboratory-

Equipment-Names-and-Uses

School Science laboratory Equipment list and uses | Labkafe. (n.d.). Labkafe |

Lab Equipment | Lab Furniture | STEM Kits | Registered OEM on GeM. Retrieved
 9

September 20, 2022, from https://www.labkafe.com/blog/20-common-school-

science-laboratory-equipment-and-their-uses

Susan R. Singer, Margaret L. Hilton, and Heidi A. Schweingruber, Editors;

Committee on High School Laboratories: Role and Vision; Board on Science

Education; Center for Education; Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and

Education; National Research Council. (n.d.). Read “America’s Lab Report:

Investigations in High School Science” at NAP.edu. Retrieved September 18, 2022,

from https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/11311/chapter/5

Wikipedia contributors. (2022, June 2). Chemical law. Wikipedia. Retrieved

September 18, 2022, from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_law

 CHAPTER VI

APPENDICES

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Catalyst. It is a material that speeds up a chemical reaction without changing

chemically on its own in the process.

Compound. It is a substance composed of two or more elements united

chemically in definite proportions. It can be decomposed into two or more different

pure substances by chemical means.

Decomposition. A decomposition reaction can be defined as a chemical

reaction in which one reactant breaks down into two or more products.

Experiment. A scientific activity that the researcher's evaluates to made to

demonstrate a known truth.

Laboratory. A room informally called "lab" for its scientifically equipped

where students do their research.

Substances. These are the materials being used to execute the experiment.
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LIST AND USES OF APPARATUS

Alcohol lamp. It is used to heat up the chemicals to perform the

decomposition reaction.

Analytical balance. It is used to weigh the precise measurement of small

samples.

Beaker. Use to place/ hold the hot test tubes.

Brush. Serve as the cleansing apparatus of the test tubes.

Spatula. It is typically used to scoop chemicals like the catalyst (Manganese

IV oxide) and the Potassium carbonate out of its original container.

Test tubes. These are used to hold small samples like the catalyst

(Manganese IV oxide) and the Potassium carbonate. They are primarily used for

qualitative assessment and comparison.

Tong. It is used to hold the test tubes while heating it in the alcohol lamp.

Also used to hold the test tubes when putting it in the analytical balance.
DOCUMENTATION

Apparatus

Alcohol lamp Beaker

Test tube and tong

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 14

Heating the catalyst Cooling down the catalyst

(Manganese IV oxide)

Weighing the catalyst

14
 13

Weighing the Potassium Weighing the catalyst with

chlorate (KClO3) Potassium chlorate

(before heating)

Heating the catalyst with

Potassium chlorate
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Cooling the Potassium

chlorate (KClO3) with catalyst

Weighing the Potassium chlorate with

catalyst (after cooling down)

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COMPUTATIONS

Equations

Weight of KClO3 (W3) = W2 – W1 Weight of O given off heating (Wox) = W2 – Wf

Experimental % of oxygen heating [(W ox / W3) x 100]

%O actual−%Otheoretical
φ= x 100%
%O theoretical

Given

W1 = 18.816 g W4 = 20.052 g Wf = 20.049 g

W2 = 20.861 g W5 = 20.051 g Molecular mass of KClO3

W3 = ? W6 = 20.049 g 122.5 g

Solutions

Find weight of KClO3. Find weight of O given off heating (Wox).

Weight of KClO3 (W3) = W2 – W1 Wox = W2 – Wf

W3 = 20.861 g – 18.816 g W0x = 20.861 g – 20.049 g

Weight of KClO3 (W3) = 2.045 g W0x = 0.812 g

Find experimental % of oxygen heating.

Experimental % of oxygen heating [(Wox / W3) x 100]

[(0.812 g / 2.045 g) x 100] = (39.7066) x 100

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%Oactual = 39.71%

Find theoretical % of oxygen by weight in KClO 3.

% of O = 3x16 / 122.5

%Otheoretical = 39.17%

Find % error.

%O actual−%Otheoretical
φ= x 100%
%O theoretical

39.71%−39.17 %
φ= x 100%
39.17 %

φ = 1.38%
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PROBLEMS

Data Sheet

Percent Oxygen in Potassium Chlorate

1. Weight of test tube and catalyst (W1) 18.816 g

2. Weight of test tube, catalyst, and KClO3 (W2) 20.861 g

3. Weight KClO3 (W3) 2.045 g

4. Weight of test tube and the contents after 1st heating (W 4) 20.052 g

5. Weight of test tube and the contents after 2nd heating (W 5) 20.051 g

6. Weight of test tube and the contents after 3rd heating (W 6) 20.049 g

7. Weight of test tube and the contents after last heating (W f) 20.049 g

8. Weight of oxygen given off heating (W2 - Wf = Wox) 0.812 g

9. Experimental % of oxygen heating [(Wox / W3) x 100] 39.71%

10. Theoretical % of oxygen by weight in KClO3 39.17%

11. Percent error 1.38%

Questions

1. Define the terms compound and catalyst.

- Compound is a substance composed of two or more elements united

chemically in definite proportions. It can be decomposed into two or more

different pure substances by chemical means. Catalyst is a substance that

increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any

permanent chemical change.998

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2. What is law of definite proportions?

- Law of definite proportions states that every chemical compound contains

fixed and constant proportions (by mass) of its constituent elements.

3. During the experiment, what does it imply when you have obtained the same

weight from the previous weight?

- It implies the law of definite proportions.

4. What is the role of MnO2 in the experiment?

- Manganese IV oxide (MnO2) acts as a catalyst to speed up the

decomposition of potassium chlorate