GASES IN

THE
LABORATOR
Y

PAPER 6 IGCSE
METHODS OF PREPARING GASES

•The following gases are commonly prepared in the laboratory:Carbon dioxide, chlorine,
hydrogen and oxygen
METHODS OF COLLECTING GASES

Collecting Gases
The method of collecting a gas produced by a chemical reaction
will depend on its solubility and its density.
•Solubility – its ability to dissolve in water and
•Density – how “heavy” it is as compared to air.
Three common methods to collect a sample of gas are shown
below:
•Displacement of Water
•Upwards Delivery
•Downwards Delivery
 METHODS OF COLLECTING GASES

Collection by downward delivery

This method is used for gases which are soluble in water but more dense than air
Delivery tube

Thistle funnel
Collection by downward
delivery

e.g. hydrogen chloride gas

, carbon dioxide gas and
Round bottom flask
Sulfur dioxide gas.
Gas jar
 METHODS OF COLLECTING GASES

Collection over water

It is the best method of collecting a gas so long as the gas is insoluble or slightly soluble in
water. This method can be used for insoluble gases which are more dense or less dense than
air.

Delivery tube
Collection over water
e.g. hydrogen, nitrogen,
methane and oxygen.

trough
METHODS OF COLLECTING GASES

Collection by upward delivery

This method is used for gases which are soluble in water but less dense than air.

Collection by upward delivery

e.g. ammonia gas.
Hydrogen gas can also be
collected by this method too.
 METHODS OF DRYING GASES

• In many cases the gas we are collecting needs to be dried.

• This can be done by passing the gas through a drying agent which removes any water present.
• Depending on the gas being collected, a different drying agent may be used.
• Three common drying agents are:
• Concentrated sulfuric acid which can dry all gases except ammonia as neutralisation occurs.
• Anhydrous calcium chloride can dry all gases except for ammonia as it forms calcium chloride.
• For ammonia and neutral gases, calcium oxide is the preferred drying agent.

•To dry a substance in Chemistry means to remove any water

molecules that may be present.
•Water can be removed from liquids in this way, and even
though in liquid form, they are referred to as dried.
METHODS OF DRYING GASES

Drying of Gas Sample

To prepare a dry sample of gas, we can pass it through drying agents like concentrated sulphuric acid,
quicklime (calcium oxide) and fused calcium chloride (heated calcium chloride).
Here are the set ups for each of the drying agents
 MEASUREMENT OF VOLUME OF GAS SAMPLE

Besides collecting gases, sometimes

we need to measure the volume of
gas collected in order to determine the
amount of reactants used, how far a
reaction has progressed etc. To
measure the volume of a gas, we use
a gas syringe. Before the start of the
experiment, the plunger is pressed
fully into the barrel to expel any gas
present in the syringe. As gas is
produced during a reaction and enters
the syringe, the plunger is pushed
outwards and the volume of the gas
produced can be measured:
PAST PAPER PRACTICE
 METHODS OF SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION
Mixtures of solids
•Differences in density, magnetic properties, sublimation and solubility can
be used.
•For a difference in solubility, a suitable solvent must be chosen to ensure the
desired substance only dissolves in it and not other substances or impurities.

Mixtures of liquids
•Immiscible liquids can be separated
using a separating funnel or
by decanting (pouring carefully).
•Examples include when an organic
product is formed in aqueous
Separating funnel being used to
conditions. separate kerosene and water
 METHODS OF SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION

Filtration
Used to separate
an undissolved solid from
a mixture of the solid and a
liquid / solution ( e.g. sand
from a mixture of sand and
water).

Filtration of a mixture of sand and water

 METHODS OF SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION

Crystallization
• The solution is heated, allowing the solvent to evaporate to leave a saturated solution behind.
• The saturated solution is allowed to cool slowly and solids will come out of the solution as
the solubility decreases, and crystals will grow.
• Crystals are collected by filtering the solution.
• They are then washed with cold, distilled water to remove impurities and allowed to dry.
 METHODS OF SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION
Simple Distillation
•The solution is heated and pure water evaporates producing a vapour which rises through the neck of the round
bottomed flask.
•The vapour passes through the condenser, where it cools and condenses, turning into pure liquid H 2O that is collected
in a beaker.
 METHODS OF SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION
Fractional distillation
•The solution is heated to the
temperature of the substance with
the lowest boiling point.
•This substance will rise and
evaporate first, and vapours will pass
through a condenser, where they cool
and condense, turning into a liquid that
will be collected in a beaker.
•For water and ethanol: ethanol has a
boiling point of 78 ºC and water of 100
ºC. The mixture is heated until it reaches
78 ºC, at which point the ethanol boils
and distills out of the mixture and
condenses into the beaker.
•When the temperature starts to increase •For the distillation of volatile liquids, it is
to 100 ºC heating should be stopped. often recommended to use an electric heater
Water and ethanol are now separated. rather than the naked flame of a bunsen
burner as volatile organic liquids tend to be
flammable.
•This is a typical exam question on safety and
hazards that often comes up.
METHODS OF SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION

Chromatography
Retention factor (Rf) values
•The Rf value of a particular compound
is always the same.
•Calculating the Rf value allows
chemists to identify unknown
substances because it can be compared
with Rf values of known substances
under the same conditions.
Calculation
•Retention factor = distance moved by
compound ÷ distance moved by
solvent. Using Rf values to identify components of a mixture
•The Rf value is a ratio and therefore
has no units.
METHODS OF SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION(CHROMATOGRAPHY)

 Locating agents
• Locating agents are substances which react with colourless samples and produce a
coloured product which is then visible.
• The chromatogram is treated with the agent after the chromatography run has been
carried out, making the sample runs visible to the naked eye.
• The agent is sprayed on and gently heated for a few minutes to take effect.
METHODS OF SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION