Experiment Two: Compound Stoichiometry

Priya Srivastava
October 16, 2008
Thursday Section 403
T.A. Patrice Fields

Introduction
Few people realize the importance of stoichiometry in their everyday
life. Stoichiometry, which is the calculations scientists use to predict and
measure chemical reactions, is used by many big-time companies that
produce every day products such as soaps, personal hygiene products, lawn
products, as well as some food items. Everyday, chemists use stoichiometry
to help determine how much product to expect from a certain reaction.
In Experiment 2, however, we will use stoichiometry to help determine
the formula of the chemical reaction between copper and sulfur. Through
the course of this experiment, we will observe the reaction happen and then
use the resulting masses of product to calculate the reaction in theory. This
lab is particularly helpful in that we will be learning how to will be able to see
a reaction occur and actually see what the product looks like. Plus, it
corresponds to topics learned in Chemistry 101, such as the calculation of
moles, compound formulas, molar mass, and how to use stoichiometry in
general. Along with that, we will be able to perfect our technique of handling
objects with tongs and using the Bunsen burner. Plus, we will practice
accurately measuring objects using the laboratory and analytical balances.

Procedure
The procedure followed in Experiment 2 can be found in the Laboratory
Experiments for First Year Chemistry, 3rd Edition by Sprague, Alexander,

Padolik, and Steffel on pages 2-2 to 2-3. However, we did not put our
product in a labeled vial and turn it in.

Results
The results obtained in this experiment can be found summarized on the
attached report sheet.

Discussion
As mentioned in the introduction, the point of this experiment was to find the
empirical formula of a reaction between copper and sulfur. In order to do this,
I needed to calculate the formula using stoichiometry. From this experiment,
I learned that a slight change in the mass of a reactant (in this case, the
sulfur) does not affect the empirical formula.
1. There were many indications that a reaction had occurred between the
metal and sulfide. Some qualitative reactions that I observed included
the vaporization of sulfur when the copper and sulfur were heated up
and the sulfur dioxide was released, pushing out the air out of the
crucible. The most convincing reason, however, that a reaction
occurred is the change in color after the sulfur and copper reacted. The
copper was originally a rusty orange-copper color and the sulfur was a
yellow color and after the reaction, the product was bluish-black.

Quantitatively, one can see that the original 0.0078 moles of copper
and 0.0044 moles of sulfur reacted to form one mole of Cu2S.
2. 2Cu + S Cu2S
3. As shown in my calculations below, adding or subtracting 0.002 grams
of metal sulfide does not affect the empirical formula. This is because
the empirical formula is the simplest formula of a chemical and the
mole ratio is rounded to the nearest whole number ratio anyway.

4. In my experiment, both Trial 1 and Trial 2 showed no differences in their

empirical formulas. Although in Trial 1, 0.142 grams of sulfur were used
and in Trial 2, 0.155 grams of sulfur were used, there was no difference in
the empirical formula. This is because, as said before, the empirical
formula is the simplest form of a compound and is rounded to the nearest
whole number. While a different amount of sulfur was used, the difference
in mass was too miniscule to affect the empirical formula.
Overall Conclusion
In this experiment, we learned how to calculate the empirical formula of a
reaction between copper and sulfide. This lab helped bring to light the fact

that a slight change in mass does not make a difference in the empirical
formula due to the fact that the empirical is a rounded whole number.
Whether adding in 0.002 grams or about 0.5 grams of sulfur, the empirical
formula still remained the same.