AP Lab Report 3: The Crystal Violet Experience

Nathan Duda, Lance Schell, and Laura Wier

Park Hill South High School
Block One Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry
Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Abstract

In this experiment, in order to find the rate of the reaction of crystal violet and OH-, a

solution of crystal violet and NaOH was created and placed in a spectrophotometer. The

absorbance and percent transmittance were measured at two minute intervals for nineteen

minutes. The next step was to graph [Dye] vs. time, ln [Dye] vs. time, and 1 / [dye] vs. time.

Since this reaction is first order, the slope of the ln [Dye] vs. time graph is the rate of the

reaction. The results of the experiment show that the reaction between crystal violet and

NaOH is second order overall, with respect to the dye and OH-. The rate law for the reaction

is Rate = k[Dye][OH-].

Introduction

The amount of light a substance absorbs is measured in percent transmittance or

absorbance. The absorbance values are easier to use as they are directly proportional to the

concentration.1 This is the basis of the Beer-Lambert law.1 These values are measured using

a spectrophotometer, which allows a certain wavelength of light to pass through a colored

medium.2 The colored medium is contained in a cuvette and lowered into the

spectrophotometer.2 Distilled water is used first to zero the machine out and establish full

transparency values at that particular wavelength.2 In order to equate using the Beer-Lambert

law, there are some requirements that must be met, including absorbers which act

independently of each other, a homogenous medium (as to prevent diffraction of the

radiation), parallel rays must be used in the radiation source, the width of the radiation source
 must be more narrow than the medium through which absorbency is being measured, and the

light should not cause stimulated emission.3 Depending on the type of experiment being

conducted, the rate of formation can be calculated4, various values of an analyte (a substance

that is undergoing analysis or is being measured; usually in polarimetry)5, as well as

measuring the amount of ultraviolet light absorbed by proteins in a chromatography column6.

All measurements are recorded at the substance’s maximum absorbance, which usually

varies between wavelengths, and for this reason, measurements of a substance’s absorbance

should never be taken only at one wavelength, as extinction exists in the substance at every

wavelength in the spectrum.7 However, the approximate middle of the spectrum should be

used if only one reading is to be used, as this provides the most accurate measurements.8

Experimental

This experiment is called “A Study of Reaction Rate” which was made by J. Corsaro.9

The only change made to the experiment was to only measure the percent transmittance and

absorbance of the solution for only nineteen minutes instead of the suggested twenty five.

Calculations

To find the molarity of the dye, use a conversion factor to convert the grams per Liter of

dye into moles per liter of dye.

𝑔 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐷𝑦𝑒
. 0284 𝐷𝑦𝑒 × = 6.96 × 10−5 𝑀 𝐷𝑦𝑒
𝐿 407.99 𝑔 𝐷𝑦𝑒

After the molarity of the dye is found, the concentration of dye can be calculated using

the following equation:

M1V1 = M2V2
 M₁ is the initial molarity of the dye and V₁ is the volume of the dilution. V is the final

volume of the solution. Use the equation to solve for M₂ ([Dye]). See data table 1

(6.96 x 10-5 M)(10 mL) = M2(100 mL)

M2 = (6.96 x 10-5 M)(10 mL)

(100 mL)

M2 = 6.96 x 10-6

To find the concentration of dye in part two of the lab, use the following equation:

𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏

The slope and b value is calculated from the graph (see graph 1). Y is the absorbance and

x is the unknown [Dye] (See data table 2 for trial one with 10.0mL of stock solution and data

table3 for trial two with 5.0mL of stock solution).

. 41 = 83945.73 𝑥 + (−.046)

. 41 − (−.046)
=𝑥
83945.73

𝑥 = 5.43 × 10−6 𝑀

Before the order of the reaction can be determined, the concentration of NaOH for the

5.0mL of stock solution and the 10.0mL of stock solution. First, find the molarity of NaOH

using a use a conversion factor to convert the grams per Liter of NaOH into moles per liter of

NaOH.

𝑔 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
4.2105 × = .1053𝑀 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
𝐿 40.00 𝑔 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻

Next, use the following equation to determine the molarity of NaOH after dilution:
 𝑀₁𝑉₁ = 𝑀₂𝑉₂

. 1053𝑀 10𝑚𝐿 = 𝑀(100𝑚𝐿)

𝑀 = .01053𝑀

. 1053𝑀 5𝑚𝐿 = 𝑀(100𝑚𝐿)

𝑀 = .005265 𝑀

To find the order of the reaction with respect to NaOH, use the following equation:

𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑇₁ = . 01 𝑥
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑇₂ = . 005 𝑥

The slopes of trial on and trial two are calculated from the graph (See graph 3 for trial

one and graph 5 for trail two). Solve for x.

−30.511 = . 01053 𝑥
−16.565 = . 005265 𝑥

2 = 2𝑥

𝑥=1

X is found to be one, which means that the order of the reaction is first order with respect

to NaOH.

Conclusion

In this experiment, in order to find the rate of the reaction of crystal violet and OH-, a

solution of crystal violet and NaOH was created and placed in a spectrophotometer. The

absorbance and percent transmittance were measured at two minute intervals for nineteen

minutes. The next step was to graph [Dye] vs. time, ln [Dye] vs. time, and 1 / [dye] vs. time.

Since this reaction is first order, the slope of the ln [Dye] vs. time graph is the rate of the

reaction. The results of the experiment show that the reaction between crystal violet and
NaOH is second order overall, with respect to the dye and OH-. The rate law for the reaction

is Rate = k[Dye][OH-].

The following errors may have caused the data to be wrong. In part two, when the 5.0

mL of NaOH was mixed with the 10.0 mL of dye, they values fluctuated and then

increased/decreased how they were supposed to. This could be due to the solutions not

mixing properly at first, but became mixed and reacted after the first minute.
References

1. Laboratory Activity 1 Teacher Notes.

http://intro.chem.okstate.edu/ChemSource/Instrument/inst4.htm

2. Spectrophotometer Use.
http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/Labs/Microbiology/Growth_Curve/Spectrophotomet
er.htm

3. Ebbing, Darrell D, General Chemistry, 1990.

4. IUPAC Gold Book – Rate of Formation vn,y or vc,y.

http://goldbook.iupac.org/R05152.html

5. Analyte Definition. Northwestern University Biochemistry Department.

http://www.biochem.northwestern.edu/holmgren/Glossary/Definitions/Def-
A/analyte.html

6. Measurement of Protein Concentration Using Absorbance at 280 nm.

http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/methods/protein/abs280.html

7. Using the Spectrophotometer. John Altman.

http://www.microbiology.emory.edu/altman/f_protocols/f_instruments/spectrophotomete
r.html

8. Setting Up a Colorimetric Assay. David R. Corpette.

http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/methods/protein/protcurve.html

9. Corsaro, J., A Study of Reaction Rate, 1964.

Tables

Table 1: Crystal Violet Concentration Vs. Absorbance Calibration Curve

Dilution (mL) [Dye] %T A
2.0 1.4 x 10-6 M 82% .09
4.0 2.8 x 10-6 M 63% .20
-6
6.0 4.2 x 10 M 52% .28
8.0 5.6 x 10-6 M 42% .37
-6
10.0 6.96 x 10 M 26% .59

Table 2: Reaction of Dye With Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)

5.0 mL NaOH, 10.0 mL Dye
Time (min) %T A [Dye] ln [Dye] 1 / [Dye]
1 39 .41 5.43 x 10-6 M -12.124 1.84 x 10-5 M-1
-6
3 38 .42 5.55 x 10 M -12.102 1.80 x 10-5 M-1
-6
5 44 .36 4.84 x 10 M -12.239 2.07 x 10-5 M-1
-6
7 47 .33 4.48 x 10 M -12.316 2.23 x 10-5 M-1
9 50 .30 4.12 x 10-6 M -12.400 2.43 x 10-5 M-1
-6
11 53 .28 3.88 x 10 M -12.460 2.58 x 10-5 M-1
-6
13 55 .26 3.65 x 10 M -12.521 2.74 x 10-5 M-1
15 56 .25 3.53 x 10-6 M -12.554 2.83 x 10-5 M-1
-6
17 57 .24 3.41 x 10 M -12.589 2.93 x 10-5 M-1
-6
19 60 .22 3.17 x 10 M -12.662 3.15 x 10-5 M-1

Table 3: Reaction of Dye With Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)

10.0 mL NaOH, 10.0 mL Dye
Time (min) %T A [Dye] ln [Dye] 1 / [Dye]
-6
1 38 .42 5.55 x 10 M -12.102 1.80 x 10-5 M-1
-6
3 43 .36 4.84 x 10 M -12.239 2.07 x 10-5 M-1
5 49 .31 4.24 x 10-6 M -12.371 2.36 x 10-5 M-1
-6
7 55 .26 3.65 x 10 M -12.521 2.74 x 10-5 M-1
-6
9 61 .22 3.17 x 10 M -12.662 3.15 x 10-5 M-1
11 64 .20 2.93 x 10-6 M -12.741 3.41 x 10-5 M-1
-6
13 68 .17 2.57 x 10 M -12.872 3.89 x 10-5 M-1
-6
15 71 .15 2.33 x 10 M -12.970 4.29 x 10-5 M-1
-6
17 74 .13 2.10 x 10 M -13.074 4.76 x 10-5 M-1
19 77 .11 1.86 x 10-6 M -13.195 5.38 x 10-5 M-1
Graphs

* The first data point was not plotted to ensure only data which was relevant to the experiment
was used.

Graph 1: Absorbance vs. [Dye]

Graph 2: [Dye] vs Time Graph 3: 1 / [Dye] vs. Time

Graph 4: ln [Dye] vs. Time Graph 5: ln [Dye] vs. Time

(Trial 1) (Trial 2)