Alyssa Ortiz #0310636 Ortiz 1

Percent Composition from Gravimetric Analysis of Calcium Carbonate

Alyssa Ortiz
Chem-111-1L
College of Western Idaho
Abstract

The purpose of this lab was to analyze an experimentally found precipitate and subtraction of a

volatile compound via gravimetric analysis to find the amount of CaCO3, Calcium carbonate,

present in the compound. The results from these calculations were then compared via percent

composition to find the percentage of the analyte, CaCO3, in the limestone sample. The first

section yielded an average of 87.9% CaCO3. The second section yielded an average of 73.5%

CaCO3.

Introduction

Calcium carbonate, CaCO3, in this experiment looked at from a limestone sample, is a chemical

compound commonly found in mineral rocks. Limestone is sedimentary rock composed of this

compound, CaCO3. Limestone’s solubility properties allow it to dissolve into precipitate to form

stalactites and stalagmites [3]. Because of these properties gravimetric analysis, a quantitative

analysis technique, is applied. Gravimetric analysis can be applied to different processes of the

composition of minerals or rock to quality control measurements [5]. This analyses technique

was used to measure the unknown mass of an analyte, and from that the compound was isolated

and weighed, yielding the percent composition of that analyte.

The purpose of this experiment was to analyze Calcium carbonate’s precipitate and subtraction

of a volatile compound via gravimetric analysis to find its percent composition. The results from

the two different methods were compared to find the percent composition of the analyte:
Alyssa Ortiz #0310636 Ortiz 2

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡

% composition = 𝑥 100
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒

The following reactions were used to perform the analysis:

CaCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) →CaCl2(aq) + H2CO3(aq)

H2CO3(aq) → CO2(g) + H2O(l)

-------------------------------------------------------

net reaction: CaCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CaCl2(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

CaCl2(aq) + (NH4)2SO4(aq) → CaSO4(s) + 2NH4Cl(aq)

Experimental

The first section of the lab required two different rock samples, weighed at 0.706 grams and

0.727 grams. The samples individually reacted with 15 mL of 3.00 M HCL in their designated

Erlenmeyer flask(s). The completed reactions were then weighed and filtered using gravity

filtration. From this data, the percent composition of CaCO3 was obtained. The second portion of

the lab involved drying the samples for a full week at 110 C. Each sample’s dry precipitate was

weighed after being removed from the oven [1].

Results and Discussion

The assumption made based on reactions one and two were that CO2 and CaCO3 had a 1:1 ratio,

which resulted in them having the same amount of moles [4]. All observations were made in

accordance with the lab experiment directions.

Data Table 1: Subtraction of CO2(g)

Sample 1 Sample 2
Mass Limestone 0.706 0.727
Mass of Flask + HCl 126.66 94.869
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Mass of reacted limestone 126.743 95.342

and HCl
Mass of CO2 (g) released 0.299 0.254
Moles of CO2(g) released 0.005203 0.005771
Moles of CaCO3(s) in sample 0.005203 0.005771
Mass CaCO3(s) in sample 0.521 0.578
% Composition CaCO3(s) 71.7 79.5
Average % Composition 75.6
CaCO3(s)

Mass of CO2 – (126.66 + 0.706) – 126.743 = 0.299 g CO2

Moles of CO2 – 0.299 g CO2 * 1 mol CO2/ 44.01 g CO2 = 0.005203 mol CO2

Mass of CaCO3 – 0.005203 mol CaCO3 * 100.0869 g CaCO3/ 1 mol CaCO3 = 0.521 g CaCO3

% Composition CaCO3 – (0.521/ 0.706) * 100 = 71.7%

Data Table 2: Precipitation of CaSO4(s)

Sample 1 Sample 2
Mass dry filter paper 0.247 0.242
Mass dry filter paper and 40.436 39.967
watch glass or evaporating
dish
Mass dry precipitate, filter 42.665 42.883
paper and evaporating dish or
watch glass 1st Weighing
Mass dry precipitate, filter 41.258 40.813
paper and evaporating dish or
watch glass 2nd Weighing
Mass CaSO4(s) 0.822 0.846
Moles CaSO4(s) 0.00604 0.00621
Moles CaCO3(s) 0.00603 0.00621
Mass CaCO3(s) 0.604 0.622
% Composition CaCO3(s) 73.5 73.5
Average % Composition 73.5
CaCO3(s)
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Mass of CaSO4 – 41.258 – 40.436 = 0.822 g CaSO4

Moles of CaSO4 – 0.822 g CaSO4 * 1 mol CaSO4/ 136.14 g CaSO4 = 0.000604 mol CaSO4

Mass of CaCO3 – (0.822 g CaSO4 * 1 mol CaSO4 * 1 mol CaCO3 * 100.0869 g CaCO3)/ (136.14

g CaSO4 * 1 mol CaSO4 * 1mol CaCO3) = 0.604 g CaCO3

Moles of CaCO3 – 0.604 g CaCO3 * 1 mol CaCO3/ 100.0869 g CaCO3 = 0.00604 mol CaCO3

% Composition of CaCO3 – (0.604/0.822) * 100 = 73.5%

Conclusion

By using gravimetric analysis, the amount of CaCO3 in the original limestone sample (looked at

as percent composition in this lab) was determined. The first section yielded an average of 75.6%

of CaCO3, and the second section yielded an average of 73.5%. When the two percentages are

averaged out, this resulted in 2.06% of CaCO3. The assumed 1:1 ratio from Reaction One and

Reaction Two that led to these findings is valid because the chemical equation is balanced.

References

[1] Fisher, M. (2022). Gravimetric Analysis of Limestone from Mackay. 6. gravimetric analysis

of limestone from mackay.docx. Retrieved November 07, 2022, from

https://cwidahoccmy.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/mikefisher_cwi_edu/ET5Iq2QrG5hLgZ

yH1bQrIzkBHl hXQY_q78SvdeSTIQq3jA?e=JfQQSZ

[2] Libretexts. (2021, September 22). 7: Gravimetric analysis (experiment). Chemistry

LibreTexts. Retrieved November 07, 2022, from

https://chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary_Materials/Laboratory_Experiments/Wet_Lab_Experi
Alyssa Ortiz #0310636 Ortiz 5

ments/General_Chemistry_Labs/Online_Chemistry_Lab_Manual/Chem_11_Experiments/

07%3A_Gravimetric_Analysis_(Experiment)

[3] National Park Service. (2015, April 10). How stalactites and stalagmites form. National Parks

Service. Retrieved November 07, 2022, from

https://www.nps.gov/ozar/learn/education/speleothems.htm

[4] Purdue University Chemistry Department. (2022). Empirical formula 2. Empirical Formula.

Retrieved November 07, 2022, from

https://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/probsolv/stoichiometry/empirical2/ef2.4.html

[5] Radulovic, D. S., Terzic, A., & Pezo, L. (2017, January). (PDF) the chemometric study of

limestone physico-chemical properties and thermal behavior for application in construction

composites2017. ResearchGate. Retrieved November 07, 2022, from

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319954076_The_Chemometric_Study_of_Limes

tone_Physicochemical_Properties_and_Thermal_Behavior_for_Application_in_Constructio

n_Composites