Stoichiometry Lab
In this lab you will be given an unknown white solid. It will be either sodium hydrogen carbonate or sodium
carbonate. Your task in this lab will be to use stoichiometry to identify the unknown solid. In order to accomplish
this, you will have to run a chemical reaction and isolate the aqueous product. Based on the mass of this product
formed, you can work backwards and determine whether your initial reactant was sodium hydrogen carbonate or
sodium carbonate. Since you will be using mass measurements to determine the identity of the unknown, it is
important that you measure everything carefully and that you do not lose any material over the course of the
reaction. Small mistakes in your technique can translate into large errors and possibly the incorrect identification
of the unknown.
You will react the unknown solid with an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid (HCl). Whether your unknown is
sodium carbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate, the reaction will proceed in exactly the same way. In fact, you'll
produce the same products in both reactions. You will isolate the ionic compound formed by the chemical
reaction. At the conclusion of the reaction, the ionic compound will be aqueous, meaning it will be dissolved in
water.
How can you separate the ionic compound from the water? By heating the solution you should be able to drive off
all of the water, which will leave behind the ionic compound. Make sure that you heat the solution gently and that
you drive off all of the water. Failure to do so may result in errors.
It is important to let the evaporating dish cool before placing it on the scale. Hot glassware (or in this case, hot
porcelain) can damage the balance. Furthermore, the measured mass of a hot object versus a room temperature
object will be different. While the actual mass of the object will not change, the balance will give a different
measurement due to differences in densities and air temperatures.
Using the balanced chemical equations, you can predict what mass of the ionic solid would have been formed
from sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. From there, you can compare the theoretical masses to the
mass you actually obtained and determine which unknown was your starting material.
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Pre-Lab: Na C1 co
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1. Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction between sodium carbonate and hydrochloric acid. Include
states of matter.
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2. Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction between sodium hydrogen carbonate and hydrochloric
acid. Include states of matter. roses [Link]
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HHCO
Halo
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3. What ionic compound will be isolated in this lab?
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sodium chloride
4. Assuming you start with an equal number of moles of each substance, will sodium carbonate or sodium
hydrogen carbonate produce more of the ionic compound? Explain your reasoning.
sodium carbonate will produce more of the ionic compound
because the ratio forsodium carbonate to sodium chloride is
while the ratio for sodiumhydrogen carbonate to sodium
21
chloride is 1P
5. Why should the solution in the evaporating dish be heated gently?
Can result in errors
6. A reaction is run using 7.35 g of sodium carbonate and aqueous hydrochloric acid. How many grams of the
ionic compound should be isolated? Show your work!
7.359 Natos
2 [Link] initii 8.11g Nacl
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Lab Materials:
● Unknown sample
● 3 M HCl solution
● Evaporating Dish
● Bunsen burner or hot plate
● Ring stand, ring, wire gauze square (if using a Bunsen burner)
● Mass Scale
● Scoopula
Procedure:
1. Weigh a clean evaporating dish and record its mass in the data table below.
2. Obtain a sample of the unknown you have been assigned. You need between 0.25 and 0.40 grams.
Record the unknown letter and your sample’s mass.
3. Add the HCl drop by drop to the sample in the evaporating dish. The reaction will be evident by the
bubbling that takes place. Continue adding HCl until the bubbling stops - this indicates that the reaction is
complete as carbon dioxide is no longer forming. It may be necessary to swirl the dish to ensure no more
bubbling occurs. (Caution: Adding too much HCl will cause your mass of product to be too high, as it will
contain unreacted HCl in addition to the ionic product. You will know if this is the case if your product turns
yellow as it is heated.)
4. Heat the dish gently to drive off the water. Your teacher will indicate whether you will use a Bunsen burner
or a hot plate and give you more specific instructions to ensure you do not heat it too strongly.
5. After all water has evaporated and the ionic product is completely dry, remove the evaporating dish from
the heat source (use appropriate safety equipment), and let it cool. Once the evaporating dish is room
temperature, weigh it and record the mass.
6. Clean-up: Wash the evaporating dish and scoopula in the sink and clean your work-space. All waste can
go down the drain.
Data Table:
Unknown Letter
Mass of evaporating dish
41.42 9
Mass of unknown
031 g
Mass of isolated product
0.18g
Post Lab: SHOW ALL WORK
1. How many moles of the ionic product did you form?
0.18 g Nacl 139.453 0 0031 mol Nacl
2
2. Using stoichiometry, calculate how many grams of sodium carbonate would have been
necessary to form this many moles.
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345.9991
0031 mol Nacl mm 0 16g Narco
3. Perform the same calculation again, but this time for sodium hydrogen carbonate.
59991
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0031 mol Nacl
Hi 0.22gNaltcos
4. In the space provided below, write a CER. Your question is “What is the identify of the unknown,
sodium carbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate?” sodiumhydrogen
carbonate
5. Using your determination of the unknown, use stoichiometry to determine how much ionic
product should have been formed (theoretical yield) given your initial mass.
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6. Using the product mass you obtained (actual yield), calculate your percent yield.
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CER - “What is the identity of the unknown substance, sodium carbonate or sodium hydrogen
carbonate?”