College of Health and Allied Professions

Benigno S. Aquino Drive, Bacolod City

ACTIVITY 3
Stoichiometry – Gravimetric Analysis

Gravimetric analysis is a technique through which the amount of an analyte (the ion being analyzed)
can be determined through the measurement of mass. Gravimetric analyses depend on comparing
the masses of two compounds containing the analyte. The principle behind gravimetric analysis is
that the mass of an ion in a pure compound can be determined and then used to find the mass
percent of the same ion in a known quantity of an impure compound.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the laboratory activity, students are expected to:

1. determine the actual yield, theoretical yield and percent yield of the sodium chloride (NaCl)
that is produced from two gas forming reactions.

MATERIALS

APPARATUS CHEMICALS
evaporating dish solution with Group 1 cations
6M HCl
watch glass (to fit as cover for the evap. dish) 2 N HCl Na2CO3
hot plate 6 N NaOH NaHCO3
wire gauze 6 N NH4OH
stirring rod 1 N KI
50 mL beaker 1 N K2CrO4
10 mL Mohr pipette 1 N NH4Cl
analytical balance 1 N KCN
dropper

PROCEDURE

PART A
1. Measure and record the mass of your clean dry evaporating dish + watch glass (assembled
together with the watch glass acting as a cover on top of the evaporating dish).
2. Carefully add 0.3 – 0.4 g of solid sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) to the evaporating dish. Do not do
this over the balance as spills can damage the balance! Measure and record the mass of the
evaporating dish + watch glass + Na2CO3. Calculate the mass of the Na2CO3.
3. Obtain about 5-mL of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in your smallest beaker. Using the dropper, add the
HCl drop by drop to the sodium carbonate in the evaporating dish. The reaction will be evident
by the bubbling that takes place. Gently mix the reactants after every 4-5 drops of HCl. Continue
adding HCl until the bubbling stops. This indicates that the reaction is complete and that all of
the Na2CO3 has reacted.
4. Assemble the wire gauze and hot plate apparatus for heating.
5. Gently heat the solution in the evaporating dish with the hot plate in order to remove the water
generated in the reaction (as well as any excess HCl present). The flame should be wafted under
the evaporating dish constantly. Continue heating until the contents are completely dry. (When
you think it’s dry, heat it for 2 more minutes – stop if white salt starts to turn brownish).
6. After allowing the evaporating dish to cool to room temperature, measure and record the mass
of the evaporating dish, watch glass and residue (NaCl).

JSEspanola/ MSAlfaras /JDJavier/JMBedrio Page 1 of 5

7. The waste from this experiment may be disposed of in the sink.
8. Calculate the theoretical yield of NaCl for the reaction using stoichiometry. Use your mass of
sodium carbonate reactants weighed out in lab as the starting point and the mole ratios from the
balanced equations for these calculations. Then determine your percentage yield for each
reaction using the calculated theoretical yields along with your experimental yields of NaCl,
obtained in lab.

Unbalanced Reaction:
𝑁𝑎2 𝐶𝑂3 (𝑠) + 𝐻𝐶𝑙 (𝑎𝑞) → 𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝐶𝑂2 (𝑔) + 𝐻2 𝑂 (𝑙)
𝑎𝑐𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑
% 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 = × 100%
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙

PART B

In this part, sodium carbonated (Na2CO3) will be replaced with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). The
equation will be:

𝑁𝑎𝐻𝐶𝑂3 (𝑠) + 𝐻𝐶𝑙 (𝑎𝑞) → 𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝐶𝑂2 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝐻2 𝑂 (𝑙)

Repeat steps 1 to 7 in Part A, but this time with 0.3 – 0.4 g sample of sodium bicarbonate in place of
the sodium carbonate. Record your data in the table.

JSEspanola/ MSAlfaras /JDJavier/JMBedrio Page 2 of 5

Name: ___________________________________________________________ Section: ____________
Date Performed: ________________________ Group No.: ________________ Rating: _____________

ACTIVITY 3
Stoichiometry – Gravimetric Analysis

Table 1. Data table for PART A.

Mass (g)

1. Mass of clean, dry Evaporating Dish and Watch Glass

2. Mass of Evaporating Dish, Watch Glass, and Na2CO3

3. Mass of Na2CO3

4. Mass of Evaporating Dish, Watch Glass, and NaCl Residue

after Drying

5. Experimental Mass of Na2CO3 NaCl

6. Theoretical Mass of NaCl

7. Percent Yield

JSEspanola/ MSAlfaras /JDJavier/JMBedrio Page 3 of 5

Calculation of theoretical mass of NaCl for Part A:

Calculation of Percent Yield of NaCl for Part A:

Table 2. Data Table for Part B.

Mass (g)

1. Mass of clean, dry Evaporating Dish and Watch Glass

2. Mass of Evaporating Dish, Watch Glass, and NaHCO3

3. Mass of NaHCO3

4. Mass of Evaporating Dish, Watch Glass, and NaCl Residue

after Drying

5. Experimental Mass of Na2CO3 NaCl

6. Theoretical Mass of NaCl

7. Percent Yield

Calculation of theoretical mass of NaCl for Part B

Calculation of Percent Yield of NaCl for Part B:

JSEspanola/ MSAlfaras /JDJavier/JMBedrio Page 4 of 5

Conclusion
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

References (use a separate sheet if space is lacking)

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

JSEspanola/ MSAlfaras /JDJavier/JMBedrio Page 5 of 5