Physical Sciences 20

Foundations of Chemistry Reactions Lab:

For all of the lab stages you will need your periodic table of the elements,
calculator and a pencil!
Stage 1 Decomposition Reaction of Sodium in Sulphuric Acid:
Materials: 10.0 mL of 18.0 M, concentrated, sulphuric acid (H 2SO4), one piece of
sodium metal, an electronic balance, one 140 mL beaker, a graduated cylinder
tongs and a scalpel.
Description: this experiment will be done by the teacher as a demonstration due
to its flammable and corrosive nature. Completed by first measuring 10.0 mL of
stock 18.0M, concentrated, H2SO4, into the graduated cylinder before being
transferred to the 140 mL beaker. A piece of sodium metal is then cut to an
appropriate size using the scalpel before being weighed on the electronic balance
( g) and then added to the beaker containing the sulphuric acid using
the tongs. Be sure to keep hands and face away from the beaker! After the
sodium metal is added. Observe.
Things to Know:
What would happen, if some of the concentrated acid (H 2SO4) were to accidentally
to be spilled on your skin? What should you do immediately if it was?

How many valence electrons does sodium metal have? Does this mean it
is; not reactive/ reactive/ or very reactive? (Circle one) Why is it so reactive?
(Answer below)

As a concentrated acid, what would you guess the pH of H 2SO4 is?

Observations (point form):
Decomposition Reaction and Calculations:
Calculate the number of moles present in the original 10.0 mL of 18.0 M sulphuric
acid (H2SO4).

Calculate the moles of H2(g) produced, and their mass (g), from BOTH the moles of
sulphuric acid used and the original mass of sodium metal weighed.

2Na(s) + 1H2SO4(aq) 2Na+(aq) + 1SO42-(aq) + 1H2(g)

What is the limiting reactant for this experiment?

Things to Consider:
Looking at the reaction at the top of the page, what part of what we observed
happening in the beaker is the actual decomposition of sodium metal?

What caused the flame and smoke to appear in the beaker?

Stage 2 Synthesis Reaction of Magnesium Oxide from Magnesium
Ribbons and Oxygen Gas:
Materials: a single magnesium strip (ribbon), a Bunsen burner with igniter, an
electronic balance, tongs and a 50 100 mL beaker.
Description: take your empty beaker ( g) and magnesium strip (
g) over to the electronic balance and weigh them. Take them back
over to the side bench and ask for a teachers help with lighting the Bunsen burner.
Using the tongs pick up the magnesium strip near one of the ends, be sure to
have a firm grip. Place the magnesium strip into the flame of the Bunsen burner
until it ignites, there should be a pink flame. Hold the flaming magnesium strip
over the empty beaker until the flame goes out. Place the now magnesium oxide
strip down into the beaker and break it apart using the tongs into a fine powder.
Observe. (Note: dont throw out the magnesium oxide, need to reweight the beaker)
Things to Know:
What is the charge on magnesium? , On oxygen? .
How many products are formed in a synthesis reaction?
What is our source for the oxygen gas needed in this reaction?

Observations (point form):

Synthesis Reaction and Calculations:

Write the balanced synthesis equation for reacting magnesium metal and oxygen
gas.

Calculate the theoretical yield (g) of magnesium oxide that could be produced from
the initial mass of magnesium weighed (g).
The reweighed mass of the beaker with the magnesium oxide? g.
The mass of the magnesium oxide is? g.
Calculate the % yield of magnesium oxide produced by this reaction.

Things to Consider:
What do you think is the limiting reactant in this experiment? How can you always
get more of the reactant that is not limiting?

What is the molar ratio between the magnesium metal we started with and the
magnesium oxide produced? :
What does the term REDOX stand for? (Hint: if you dont know, ask one of the
teachers for help)
Stage 3 - Single Replacement Reaction Between Zinc Metal and Copper
(II) Sulfate:
Materials: 50.0 mL of 5.0 M, copper (II) sulfate, approximately 5 g of zinc metal, a
250 mL beaker, a hot plate, a graduated cylinder, an electronic balance, a glass stir
rod and a weight boat (something to transfer the zinc metal into and out of).
Description: plug in the hot plate and turn it to high heat. Measure 50.0 mL of
copper (II) sulfate from the stock 5.0 M solution, into the graduated cylinder
and then transfer it into your 250 mL beaker. Place the beaker on the hotplate
and quickly take your weigh boat over to the electronic balance. Weigh
approximately 5 g of zinc metal ( g) into the weigh boat and return to
the side bench. Place the zinc metal into your heated beaker containing the copper
(II) sulfate. Heat for 3-5 minutes while stirring with a glass stir rod (keep it on
the hot plate). Observe. (NOTE: if the reaction does not start quickly, complete the
relevant sections while you wait)
Things to Know:
What is the charge on the copper in the copper sulfate solution?
What is the chemical formula of copper (II) sulfate?

Zinc is a metal? (Hint: think about where it is on the periodic

table)
Observations (point form):

Single Replacement Reaction and Calculations:

Write the balanced single replacement equation for the reaction between copper (II)
sulfate and zinc metal.
How many moles of copper (II) sulfate are in your initial 50.0 mL?
Calculate the number of moles of zinc (II) sulfate produced by BOTH the copper (II)
sulfate and the zinc metal.

Is the limiting reactant. Calculate the mass of the zinc (II) sulfate that
it would have produced.

Things to Consider:
What do you think the brownish looking substance in the bottom of the beaker is
after the reaction?

Where did the zinc go?

Why do we use heat?
Stage 4 Double Replacement Reaction Between Potassium Iodide and
Lead (II) Nitrate:
Materials: 5.0 mL of 0.10 M potassium iodide, 1.0 mL of 0.10 M lead (II) nitrate, a
10 mL graduated cylinder, two disposable plastic pipettes and a long test tube.
Description: using a 10 mL graduated cylinder and disposable pipette,
measure out the 5.0 mL of 0.10 M potassium iodide and transfer it to the long
test tube. WASH your graduated cylinder before the next transfer. Then measure
out the 1.0 mL of 0.10 M lead (II) nitrate using the 10 mL graduated cylinder
and the OTHER disposable pipette, and transfer it into the long test tube with
the potassium iodide solution. (Note: do this addition back at your station so the
group can see the reaction) Observe.
Things to Know:
What is the chemical formula for potassium iodide?

What is the chemical formula for lead (II) nitrate?

What place can we measure to using the 10 mL graduated cylinder (i.e. hundreds)?

Observations (point form):

Double Replacement Reaction and Calculations:

Write the balanced double replacement equation for the reaction between
potassium iodide and lead (II) nitrate.
Calculate the number of moles of both the potassium iodide and lead (II) nitrate that
you measured out in the graduated cylinder.

The molar ratio of potassium iodide to lead iodide is? : ,

Meaning potassium iodide forms mol of lead (II) iodide.
The molar ration of lead (II) nitrate to lead iodide is? : .
Meaning lead (II) nitrate forms mol of lead (II) iodide.
The limiting reactant is? .
Calculate the number of grams of lead (II) iodide formed by the limiting reactant.

Things to Consider:
The lead (II) iodide (yellow) that appears in solution is a? .
Does that charge of the lead change from what it is on the reactants side to what it
is on the products side? .
Did you have any left over potassium iodide in the test tube? (i.e. the clear liquid) If
you did, what would be two ways to try and react the rest of it into lead (II) iodide?
Stage 5 Combustion Reaction Between Potassium Chlorate and Sucrose:
Materials: one clamp stand and vice clamp, one large test tube, approximately 6 g
of potassium chlorate, an electronic balance, 1 colored gummy bear, a Bunsen
burner, and a weight boat (something to transfer the sucrose and potassium
chlorate in).
Description: this experiment will be done as a demonstration by the teacher due
to the EXPLOSIVE nature of the reaction. Begin by attaching the clamp to the
stand and clamping the large test tube at an angle, do this several inches
above counter level, enough to get the Bunsen burner underneath the tube. Using
the weight boat transfer approximately 6 g potassium chlorate (
g) into the test tube. Ignite the Bunsen burner and use it to heat the tube
containing the potassium chlorate until it liquefies. Remove the Bunsen burner
from below the beaker and shut it off! Leaving the beaker secured in the
clamp place the gummy bear in the beaker and stand back! Observe
Things to Know:
What is the chemical formula for potassium chlorate?

The carbon containing compound that acts as fuel in the combustion reaction, found
in the gummy bear is a? .
Besides a carbon containing fuel, what is the other reactant you need for a
combustion reaction?
Observations (point form):

Combustion Reaction and Calculations:

Given that the carbon containing compound in the gummy bear that reacts through
combustion is sucrose (C12H22O11) write the balance combustion reaction.
Calculate the moles and mass of carbon dioxide produced if we assume the sucrose
is the limiting reactant and that the gummy bear (made entirely of sucrose) weighs
2.0 g.

Things to Consider:
Write the decomposition reaction for potassium chlorate when it is heated.

What is the reason that we heat up the potassium chlorate using the Bunsen
burner? (Hint: think about what the products are in the decomposition reaction)

What do you think the oxygen gas produced in this reaction is used for?