Limiting Reagents Essay

492 Words2 Pages
Lab #3/Limiting Reagents Abstract The purpose of this laboratory experiment was to determine whether an unknown compound was sodium carbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate by reacting a sample of it with hydrochloric acid and comparing the resulting yield of NaCl to the calculated values. The mass of an evaporating dish was taken at the start of the experiment. Then the unknown carbonate A was added in the amount of approximately one gram. The dish was weighed once more to find the definite mass of the unknown carbonate. Then, by means of a dropper bottle and stirring rod, hydrochloric acid was added until all of the unknown carbonate appeared to have reacted. On a ring stand with a bunsen burner the HCl was evaporated, leaving only the NaCl. After cooling, the mass of the dish was taken once more. The mass of the left over NaCl was compared to the predicted yields to determine what the original carbonate was exactly. There was a high possibility for error in this experiment because the NaCl could not be heated a second time to make sure all of the HCl was evaporated. The final mass of the NaCl was 1.4 grams. This number is closer to the expected yield for Na2CO3 than the one for NaHCO3, but it is greater than either. Because it is impossible to have a greater than 100 percent yield, it is likely that the HCl was not completely evaporated. Results Evaporating dish = 44.3 grams Evaporating dish with unknown carbonate A = 45.4 grams Unknown carbonate A = 1.1 grams NaHCO3 + HCl → CO2 + NaCl + H2O .754 grams of NaCl predicted yield Na2CO3 + 2HCl → CO2 + 2NaCl + H2O 1.16 grams of NaCl predicted yield Evaporating dish with NaCl after drying = 45.7 grams NaCl after drying = 1.4 grams actual yield At least 120% yield At least 20.7% error Conclusion The actual yield was more than 100 percent of the greater predicted yield and an even higher
Open Document