THE PREPARATION OF AN ALUMINUM

COMPOUND FROM ALUMINUM CANS

SUBMITTED BY: PRANAVAN MAHENDRA
NAME OF THE PARTNER: KAITIE
DATE: 03-20-2014
SUBMITTED TO: LEILANI MORALES





OBJECTIVE

The objective of this lab is to prepare an aluminum compound from
aluminum contained waste materials like aluminum cans. And to obtain a good yield
of aluminum crystals and find their melting point.

EQUIPMENT AND CHEMICALS
Equipment Chemicals

Weigh Boat
Beaker
Hot plate
Stir rod
Glass funnel
Filter paper
Vacuum filter
Oven
Melting point tube
Top loader balances(BA # 4)
Analytical Balance (BA # 3)

1.00g of Aluminum scrap
KOH
9M H2SO4
DI water


SAFETY:

H2SO4:
Very hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive, irritant)of eye contact (irritant,
corrosive), of ingestion, of inhalation. Liquid or spray mist may produce tissue
damage particularly on mucous membranes.

ALUMINUM:
Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant). Non-hazardous in case of
ingestion.

PROCEDURE:

Please refer to Lab 8: The preparation of Aluminum compound from
aluminum can: Chemistry 1 Laboratory Manual 2013-2014, Durham College, pages
31-33 for full list of Materials and Methods .




DISCUSSION:

In order to achieve this lab someone should make sure that the Aluminum scraps
were cut well into tiny pieces and placed into a beaker. Pour KOH carefully in to the
beaker because it may cause burns and place the beaker in the hot plate. These
procedures should be performed in the fume hood. The reaction of KOH with
Aluminum produce hydrogen gases and the solution turned black. The solution that
formed will undergoes some filtration, which will produce a clear solution.Tranfer
the solution in to a large space beaker and place it in an ice bath { smaller beaker
will take too long to form crystals} for 20 minutes to get crystals. The crystals that
form in the bottom of the beaker should be filtered with vacuum filter and dried
with the oven to obtain pure dry Aluminum. Ethanol is also used in the vacuum
process to produce the Aluminum quicker {Ethanol evaporates faster}.


OBSERVATION:

PROCEDURE RESULTS

Take 1.00g of Aluminum and cut them in
to tiny pieces and place them in a beaker.
Add 50ml of KoH and heat the solution
in the hot plate.

Filter the solution

Solution turned white and producing H2
has





Clear solution produced.



CALCULATION:

Theoretical mass = Mass of Aluminium x Formula mass of KAl (SO4)2.12H2O
Atomic Mass of Al

= 1.00 g x 474.29 g/mol
26.98 g/mol

Theoretical mass = 17.58 g

Total weight of Al compound yield + Filter paper weight = 8.05 g
After removing weight of filter paper = 8.05g 0.1966g
Total (Al) yield = 7.853g

Percentage yield % = Mass of Alum obtained (g) x 100
Theoretical mass of Alum (g)

Add 20ml of H2SO4 in to the clear
solution and stir occasionally.

Heat the solution of large lumps of
aluminum hydroxide for 10 minutes.

Weigh a filter paper

Cool the solution in the Erlenmeyer flask
in cold water or ice bath.
White clumps produced and they got
dissolved partially after stirring.

The aluminum hydroxide got dissolved
fully and produced a clear solution.

0.1966g ( Analytical balance #3 )

Crystals formed at the bottom.

Vacuum filter the crystals with a 20ml of
(50-50) alcohol and water, transfer the
residue that formed after vacuum in to a
watch glass and place them in an oven.

Crystals obtained with some water.

Pure dry crystals obtained.




Mass of Alum obtained = 7.85 g
Theoretical mass of Alum = 17.58 g
= 7.85 x 100
17.58

= 45 %

Therefore the percent yield of Aluminum compound is 45%
And Melting Point is = 125.9
0
C




CONCLUSION:
This lab contained various methods, which would help someone to produce crystals
of Aluminum from waste materials like aluminum cans. Therefore, the percent yield
of Aluminum compound which was obtained from its scrap is 45% and the melting
point is 125.9
0
C.