SCH3U UNIT 3 PERFORMANCE TASK

Quantitative Analysis of a Reaction

Prelab: Work together with your partner to complete the following sec ons of this lab.
Ques on
Predic ons
Safety/WHMIS
Materials
Procedure
Observa on Tables

Your Task: You will use your knowledge and skills of quan ta ve analysis to iden fy the decomposi on
reac on of sodium hydrogen carbonate (baking soda) from five possibili es. In each of the
possible reac ons shown below, one or more gases is produced, and a solid product remains.

Possible Reac ons:

1. sodium hydrogen carbonate > solid sodium, water vapour, carbon monoxide gas, oxygen gas
2. sodium hydrogen carbonate > solid sodium carbonate, water vapour, carbon dioxide gas
3. sodium hydrogen carbonate > solid sodium hydroxide, carbon dioxide gas
4. sodium hydrogen carbonate > solid sodium oxalate, water vapour, oxygen gas
5. sodium hydrogen carbonate > solid sodium oxide, water vapour, carbon dioxide gas

Ques on: Which of the five reac ons is correct?

Predic on:
o Write and balance each of the five reac on equa ons.
o Use stoichiometric calcula ons to predict the mass of solid product formed in each of the five reac ons from
the known mass of sodium hydrogen carbonate used.

Experimental Design:
o Design an experiment that will allow you to answer the Ques on.
o YOUR DESIGN MUST BE APPROVED PRIOR TO BEGINNING THIS LAB!!!!

Materials: sodium hydrogen carbonate: 3.00 g

o Complete the Materials list, based on your experimental design, above. The equipment you select should
be commonly available.
o You are required to measure the mass to a precision of 0.01g.

Procedure:
o When you are sa sfied with your design, write a complete Procedure.
o Determine the relevant safety and WHMIS precau ons that you will need to follow, and include a step to
explain how to dispose of your waste materials.
Observa ons:
o Design tables that allow you to accurately record both qualita ve observa ons and quan ta ve data.

Post Lab: Individually, please complete a formal lab report that includes all parts of the Pre- lab, including any
modifica ons that were made to the procedure, the Calcula ons, Discussion and Conclusion.

Calcula ons:
o Determine the mass of gas produced.
o Iden fy the correct decomposi on reac on – consider how best to jus fy your choice.
o Calculate the percentage yield of the solid product.

Discussion:
o Explain your choice of decomposi on reac on using lab evidence to support your answer.
o Suggest reasons why the actual yield may be different from the theore cal yield.
o From your knowledge of the proper es of the two oxides of carbon, which of the five possible reac ons is
not likely a chemical reac on designed for the home? Explain.
o It is o en recommended that we keep a jar of baking soda on hand in the kitchen to ex nguish small
grease fires. Relate this applica on to the proper es of the products formed in this reac on.
o Sodium hydrogen carbonate is used in cooking recipes where an acidic ingredient is present, and in
common household products such as toothpaste, antacid tablets and cleaners. Evaluate the importance
of accurate chemical quan es and calcula ons in each of these applica ons.

Remember to:
o Assess the validity of observa ons & evaluate your experimental design
o Discuss the limita ons of the experimental design, sources of error and provide improvements.

Extension... suggest other experiments that could be performed....

Conclusions:
o Clearly answer the ques on and support with lab evidence.