How does the concentration of Hydrochloric Acid affect the

rate of which Calcium Carbonate loses mass?

Thien Tran

Introduction Discussion
Our experiment aimed to investigate how changing the concentration of ● 4 paragraphs generally
Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) affects the rate of which Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) ○ Paragraph 1: Scientific analysis
loses mass over time in an exposed environment. This was done ■ Outline the main trend in your data to show the relationship between IV
accomplished by using 3 different concentrations of HCl (0.5M, 1M and 2M) and DV
and medium CaCO3 chips and recording the mass across 15 second intervals. ■ Refer to hypothesis
It was hypothesized that the Hydrochloric Acid of 2M would cause the fastest ■ Explain why this happened (link to research and theory). Include in-text
decrease in mass across 15 second intervals. This is due to Collision Theory, as citations.
Hydrochloric Acid molecules collide with Calcium Carbonate molecules, more ○ Paragraphs 2-4: Error evaluation
frequent collisions will occur as HCL concentration increases, causing faster ■ General structure for error evaluation:
reactions, creating more Carbon dioxide in relation to the rate of reaction, ● Topic sentence: Statement of whether your experiment is
which escape the open containment unit, consequently decreasing the total
[valid/accurate/precise/repeatable/reproducible] and identify why
mass on the scale.
you make this statement. Select the relevant ones for your
paragraph.
Methodology ○ For example: The experiment has a moderate degree of validity
Brief outline of the selected methodology used to address the research question in paragraph form. because ________.
Summary of data generation and data analysis methods. Include a photo/diagram of the set-up if ● Evidence: The impact of this error on your data (use values).
possible ● Explanation: Why did this error affect your results. Include whether

Insert photo/diagram
As the concentration of this is a random or systematic error.
● Improvement: Suggest a specific and reasonable improvement that
addresses the error you’ve identified.

Hydrochloric Acid
relating to set-up if ○ Have a specific improvement instead of saying general things like
appropriate
‘repeat this experiment with better equipment’ or ‘have a
machine to measure the DV’.
■ You need to address every term - validity, reproducibility, repeatability,

increase, the rate of precision and accuracy

Figure 1. required materials
for this experiment

Results
Concentration of Hydrochloric Acid (M)

0.5
Mass lost (g)

0.03
which Carbon Dioxide
1 0.06
created when in contact
with Calcium Carbonate
2 0.24

Conclusion
Table 1. Amount of mass lost when calcium carbonate is in contact with hydrochloric acid across 2 minutes in 15 second
intervals.

also increases.
Effects of Concentration of Hydrochloric Acid on Mass
● State main finding (using key data points) and whether your hypothesis was
12.4 supported.
12.3 ● Outline potential limitations in your experiment.
○ Limitations affect how confident you are in generalising your conclusion. From
12.2

12.1

12

11.9
your experiment, you might be confident in your conclusion for your tested range
11.8 of IVs but this conclusion might not always hold true
11.7

11.6
■ Limitations might include: time available to conduct your experiment,
11.5 equipment used in the experiment, financial restraints, the range of tested IV
groups.
11.4
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

● Suggest a future investigation that addresses the identified limitation

Series1 0.5M 1M 2M

Graph 1. Effect of increasing concentration of hydrochloric acid when in contact with calcium
carbonate. Observing rate of which carbon dioxide is created and escapes.

References Acknowledgements
1. I would like to acknowledge…
2. - Raynell Esparrago
3. - Cheng Wei Sim
4. - Luque Agborchi
5.