Experiment

Moles of Iron and Copper

In this experiment, you will observe the reaction of iron nails with a solution of copper (II) chloride and determine the ratio of
moles iron to moles copper involved in the reaction. This reaction will create an iron chloride compound with an unknown charge for
the iron ion (remember: transition metals can have multiple charges). Look on your periodic table – because iron can be either a +2 or
a +3, the product could be either iron (II) chloride; FeCl 2, or iron (III) chloride; FeCl 3. The goal of this experiment is to determine
which iron compound is produced.

OBJECTIVES:
1. Determine moles of copper produced in the reaction of iron and copper (II) chloride.
2. Determine moles of iron used in the reaction of iron and copper (II) chloride.
3. Determine the ratio of moles of iron to moles of copper.
4. Determine whether iron (II) chloride or iron (III) chloride is produced in the reaction by using the Fe:Cu mole ratio.

MATERIALS:
beaker clay triangles wash bottle
copper (II) chloride, CuCl2 stirring rod iron nails, Fe
crucible tongs distilled water funnel
electronic balance ring safety goggles
ring stand lab apron (if needed) filter paper
steel wool 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask watch glass or glass plate

PROCEDURE (be sure to wear goggles at all times!):

Day 1: The Reaction
1. Find the mass of a clean, dry beaker.
2. Add exactly 2 grams of copper (II) chloride crystals to the beaker. Find the mass of the beaker and copper (II) chloride, and
record it in your data table.
3. Obtain a nail. If the nail is not clean, use a piece of steel wool to make the surface of the nail shiny. Find the mass of the clean
nail and record it in your data table.
4. Place the nail into the beaker. Add enough distilled water to mostly cover the nail. Swirl the beaker around to dissolve all of the
copper (II) chloride crystals. Note the color of the solution in your data section.
5. Leave the reaction vessel undisturbed overnight.
Day 2: Separating the Products
6. Note any colors present in your beaker & record in your data section. Use crucible tongs to carefully pick up the nail. Use
distilled water in a wash bottle to rinse off any remaining copper from the nail into the beaker before removing it completely from
the beaker. If necessary, use a stirring rod to scrape any excess copper from the nail back into the beaker. Set the nail on a paper
towel to dry overnight in the location indicated by your instructor.
7. Set up a vacuum filter apparatus as shown in the figure to the right.
8. Prepare a piece of filter paper for funneling.
9. Weigh the piece of filter paper and record on the Report Sheet.
10. After hooking up the pressure tubing to the aspirator on the sink faucet,
Turn the water on and decant (pour) the liquid out of the beaker so that the
solid remains at the bottom of the beaker.
11. Once all of the liquid has passed through the funnel, add solid from the
beaker into the funnel. (Be careful not to puncture the filter paper.
In case your filter paper should break, hang on to the filter paper and the
filtrate, which is the solution captured in the flask.)
10. After filtering, rinse the solid in the filter paper with a little distilled water
using a wash bottle. Repeat this two or three times, being sure to rinse
down the sides of the filter paper as well.
11. After the final washing with water, place the filter paper in the designated
location and label your names in that location.
12. Clean and dry your beakers.
Part III: Gathering Final Data
13. After the nail is completely dry, find the mass of the nail and record it on the Report Sheet.
14. When the copper solid on the filter paper is completely dry, find the mass of the filter paper plus the copper and record it on the
Report Sheet.
15. Clean and put away all of your materials.
Experiment Report Sheet
Moles of Iron and Copper

PRELAB QUESTIONS:
Show all work and round answers to the appropriate number of significant figures.
1. How many moles are present in a sample of 34.0 g of iron metal?

2. How many atoms of iron are present in 2.00 moles of iron?

3. What is a filtrate?

4. Why are repeated washings of the solid in the filter paper necessary in the filtration process?

5. In the reaction between iron and copper (II) chloride, copper metal and an iron chloride is produced. There are two possible
oxidation numbers for iron in the product, +2 or +3.
a. Write the balanced reaction for this experiment, assuming that iron is a +2 in the product.

b. Write the balanced reaction for this experiment, assuming that iron is a +3 in the product.

6. What type of reaction is occurring between iron and copper (II) chloride?

DATA SECTION:
Day 1 Day 1 Colors
Mass of empty, dry beaker
Mass of beaker and CuCl2
Mass of iron nail
Day 2 Day 2 Colors
Mass of dry filter paper
Day 3
Mass of dry iron nail
Mass of dry filter paper and copper

Adapted from: DiSpezio, Hall, Schroder, and Young. “Experiment 4B - Moles of Iron and Copper.” Heath Chemistry Laboratory
Experiments. D. C. Heath and Company: 1987.
CALCULATIONS:
Show all work and round answers to the appropriate number of significant figures.
1. Find the following masses by the appropriate subtractions.
a. Mass of iron metal used up in the reaction

____________________________

b. Mass of copper metal produced

____________________________

2. Find the number of moles of the following:

a. Moles of iron used up

____________________________

b. Moles of copper produced

____________________________

3. Calculate the whole number ratio of moles of copper produced to moles of iron used. Hint: divide by the smallest number…

Ratio________________________

4. Think about the colors you observed. Was there any evidence that some of the copper (II) chloride was leftover when the reaction
had finished? Explain.

5. The actual yield of Iron chloride is _______. What is your percent error?

QUESTIONS:
1. Based on the mole ratio you calculated in this experiment, what is the correct balanced equation for this reaction? Choose from
one of the two reactions you generated in the pre-lab.

2. Which reactant (iron or copper (II) chloride) was left over at the end of this reaction? Explain your reasoning.

3. Calculate the percent composition of iron in the iron chloride, based on your results.

POST LAB DISCUSSION QUESTION:

In this experiment, you have reacted some of the iron from the nail at the same time as you have produced some copper. The
amount of each reactant that reacted was based on how many moles of each were present. The ratio of moles of iron used to
moles of copper produced will be determined. In the end, the goal of this lab is to determine the oxidation number of iron as a
product; since two oxidation numbers (+2 or +3) are possible, which one is produced?