Chemistry
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Stoichiometry
Week 009 – Stoichiometry
Laboratory Exercise 005
Objective/s:
At the end of this activity, you should be able to:
Experimentally determine the mole-to-mole ratios between the underlined
reactants and products in the following two double displacement “gas
forming” reactions:
sodium bicarbonate+hydrochloric acid⟶sodium chloride+carbon
dioxide+water
sodium carbonate+hydrochloric acid⟶sodium chloride+carbon dioxide+water
Observe a chemical reaction involving stoichiometry concepts.
Introduction:
The easiest way to obtain the mole-to-mole ratios would be to simply balance the
chemical equations for these reactions. This would be considered a theoretical
approach to the problem. The balanced equations for these reactions are:
1NaHCO3(s)+1HCl(aq)⟶1NaCl(aq)+1CO2(g)+1H2O(l)
1Na2CO3(s)+2HCl(aq)⟶2NaCl(aq)+1CO2(g)+1H2O(l)
In the first reaction, the balancing coefficients indicate that there is a 1:1 mole
ratio between reactant NaHCO3 and product NaCl. This means that for every 1
mole of sodium bicarbonate that reacts, 1 mole of sodium chloride should be
produced. However in second reaction, the balancing coefficients indicate that
there is a 1:2 mole ratio between reactant Na2CO3 and product NaCl. In this case,
for every 1 mole of sodium carbonate that reacts, 2 moles of sodium chloride
should be produced.
To determine these mole-to-mole ratios experimentally, a quantitative analysis of
both reactions is required. Specifically, a pre-weighed mass of sodium
bicarbonate/carbonate will be allowed to react with a slight excess of
hydrochloric acid. The sodium chloride product will then be carefully retrieved,
dried and weighed at the end of the reaction. This mass of collected sodium
chloride is called an experimental yield. Both the mass of sodium
bicarbonate/carbonate reactant used and the mass of sodium chloride product
can be converted to mole quantities via their respective molar masses. Finally,
dividing both the reactant and product moles by the lower of the two values
Assessments
should yield the simplest whole number mole-to-mole ratio of reactant and
product.
While an experimental product yield is obtained by actually performing a reaction
in lab, a theoretical yield is the maximum mass of product that could be obtained
from a reaction provided that no errors occur. Theoretical product yields can only
be determined by performing a series of stoichiometric calculations. Thus, using
this method, theoretical yields of sodium chloride will be calculated for reactions
A and B. Once obtained, the percent yield of sodium chloride can be determined
for both reactions, where
Percent Yield =
Good experimental practices in the lab (with minimum error) generally result in a
high percent yield, where the experimental yield closely approaches the
theoretical yield
Materials:
Solid sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)
solid sodium carbonate (Na2CO3)
6 M hydrochloric acid (HCl)
electronic balance
evaporating dish
watch glass (to fit as a cover for the evaporating dish)
stand and ring clamp
wire gauze
dropper pipette
small beaker
Bunsen burner
Safety Considerations:
Be especially careful when handling the 6 M HCl (aq), as it can cause chemical
burns to the skin. If any acid spills on you, rinse immediately under running water
for up to 15 minutes and report the accident to your instructor. Acid spills may
also be neutralized using the sodium bicarbonate solution by the sinks. Also, be
Chemistry
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Stoichiometry
sure to exercise appropriate caution when using the Bunsen burner and handling
hot equipment.
Waste Disposal:
All compounds used in today’s experiment can be flushed down the sink with
running water.
Procedure:
1. Measure and record the mass of your clean dry evaporating dish + watch glass
(assembled together with the watch glass acting as a cover on top of the
evaporating dish).
2. Carefully add 0.3 – 0.4 g of solid sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) to the evaporating
dish. Do not do this over the balance! Then measure and record the mass of the
evaporating dish + watch glass + NaHCO3.
3. Obtain about a 5-mL quantity of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in your small beaker.
Then using your dropper pipette, add the HCl drop by drop to the sodium
bicarbonate in the evaporating dish. The reaction will be evident by the bubbling
that takes place. Gently mix the reactants after every 4-5 drops of HCl. Continue
adding HCl until the bubbling stops and all of the NaHCO3 is dissolved – this
indicates that the reaction is complete.
4. Assemble the stand, ring clamp and wire gauze apparatus for heating as shown in
the figure below. Cover the evaporating dish with the watch glass and place it on
the wire gauze.
5. Gently heat the solution in the covered evaporating dish with a Bunsen burner
flame in order to remove the water generated in the reaction (as well as any
excess HCl present). The flame should be adjusted to a lower temperature and
Assessments
wafted under the evaporating dish constantly. Continue heating until the contents
are completely dry. Note that the watch glass cover should also be dry!
6. After allowing the evaporating dish to cool to room temperature, measure and
record the mass of the evaporating dish + watch glass + residue (NaCl).
7. Repeat steps 1 to 6 with a 0.3 – 0.4 g sample of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3).
8. The waste from this experiment may be disposed of in the sink.
Analysis:
Experimental Mole-to-Mole Ratios – Convert the initial mass of sodium
bicarbonate (or carbonate) reactant to moles (via its molar mass). In a similar
manner, convert the final mass of collected sodium chloride product to moles (via
its molar mass). Finally, obtain the simplest whole number mole-to-mole ratio by
dividing both the reactant and product moles by the lower of the two values.
Percent Yields – Calculate the theoretical yield of NaCl for both reactions via
standard mass-to-mass stoichiometry. Use your masses of sodium
bicarbonate/carbonate reactants weighed out in lab as the starting point and the
mole ratios from the balanced equations for these calculations. Then determine
your percent yield for each reaction using the calculated theoretical yields along
with your experimental yields of NaCl, obtained in lab.