Core Practical 1: Measurement of the molar volume of a gas
Back to topic 1: specification link: 1.7,1.8,1.11
Objective: To find the volume of one mole of CO₂ gas
Background:
- The molar volume of any gas at a given conditons of pressure and temperature is the
same (Avogdro's law)
- By collecting a gas produced in a reaction, you can determine its molar volume from
the graph of the results produced
Safety:
- Wear eye protection
- Remove the bung if the delivery tube gets blocked, clear the blockage and restart the
experiment
- Avoid skin contact with the ethanoic acid
Apparatus:
- Boiling tube
- Stand and Clamp
- Bung with deliver tube
- Water bath or gas syringe
- 100cm³ and 50cm³ measuring cylinders
- Test tube
- 2d.p balance
- 1 moldm⁻³ ethanoic acid
- Powdered calcium carbonate
Method: (important)
1. Measure 30 cm³ of 1moldm⁻³ ethanoic acid and transfer to a conical flask
2. Attach conical flask to a gas syringe or use collection over water method
3. Measure the mass of a weighing bottle with approximately 0.05g of calcium carbonate
4. Add the calcium carbonate to the conical flask - quickly releasing the bung so no gas
escapes.
5. Measure the final total volume of gas
6. Reweigh the empty weighing bottle test tube from step 3
7. Repeat the experiment several more times, increasing the mass of calcium carbonate
by about 0.05g each time (maybe around 6/7 times)
Overall Equation: CaCO₃ (s) + CH₃COOH (aq) -> CaCl₂ (aq) +H₂O (l) + CO₂ (g)
Exampler Results:
- The results for the experiment are plotted into a graph which should be a straight line
(a line of best fir may be needed)
- From the graph, the volume of CO₂ produced for a specific mass of CaCO₃ can be
found.
EXAMPLE:
0.25g CaCO₃ = 61cm³
n(CaCO₃) = 0.25/100.1 = 0.0025
1:1 ratio
∴ 0.0025 moles of CO₂
MV = 0.061/0.0025
MV = 24.4 dm³
Conclusion:
- Molar volume of CO₂ at room temperature (298 K) is 24.4 dm³mol⁻¹
- Molar volume will change depending on the temperature of the gas.
- However most molar volumes are determined at standard temperature and pressure
(STP) which are 100kPa and 298 K
KEY POINTS:
- Wait until no effervescence is observed, before weighing flask containing acid and
marble chips (CaCO₃) to minimise gas loss.
- Don't use too much CaCO₃ so you don't produce more gas than the measuring
cylinder can fit.
- A weak acid is used so that the reaction is slower, meaning there is less gas loss
between adding marble chips and attaching bung
- An alternative method could involve attatching marble chips on a string to the bung,
sealing the test tube with a bung and then tipping the test tube so that the acid comes
to the contact with the marble chip.
>> This could reduce the loss of product.
ERRORS:
- For syringes, a plunger may not be free moving so may need lubricant
- CO₂ is slightly soluble in water, so the exact volume is not measured.
- Some gas may escape between addition of marble chips and sealing the test tube.
- Bung may not be airtight
- Transferring the solid: It is important to weigh the tube containing marble chips
before the addition and reweigh after the addition. This method is 'weighing by
difference' and ensures the amount of CaCO₃ that ends up in the reaction mixture is
known.
