Experiment 1 Prelaboratory Assignment

Basic Laboratory Operations

Date __________ Lab Sec. ______ Name ____________________________________________ Desk No. __________
1. A proper fuel–air mixture is most critical in the production of an efficient, nonluminous flame. For the ignition of an
efficient Bunsen flame in the laboratory, identify the (most common) fuel and the required air component.

2. a. What is the dominant color of a nonluminous flame from a Bunsen burner? Explain.

b. Is the temperature of a luminous flame greater or less than that of a nonluminous flame? Explain.

3. Diagram the cross section of a graduated cylinder, illustrating how to read the meniscus.

4. Experimental Procedure, Part B. What is the sensitivity of the least sensitive balance most likely to be in your laboratory?

5. A woodfire in a fireplace typically has a yellow flame

whereas a (natural) gas fire (for a kitchen stove) is typically
blue. Explain why the appearance of the wood flame is
yellow whereas the gas flame most often appears blue. DJClaassen/iStockphoto

Experiment 1 55
6. Refer to Technique 16B.

Richard Megna/Fundamental
a. Remove the drop suspended from a pipet tip by . . .

Photographs
b. The finger used to control the delivery of liquid from a pipet is the . . .

c. What should be done with the last bit of liquid remaining in the pipet after delivery?

d. Most pipets are calibrated as TD 20°C. Define TD; what is its meaning regarding the volume of liquid a pipet
delivers?

7. Experimental Procedure, Part C.1. The density of diamond is 3.51 g/cm3, and the density of platinum is 21.43 g/cm3. If
equal masses of diamond and platinum are transferred to equal volumes of water in separate graduated cylinders,
which graduated cylinder would have the greatest volume change? Explain or show with a sample calculation.

8. Experimental Procedure, Part C.3. The mass of a beaker is 5.333 g. After 5.00 mL of a concentrated hydrochloric acid
solution is pipetted into the beaker, the combined mass of the beaker and the hydrochloric acid sample is 11.229 g.
From the data, what is the measured density of the hydrochloric acid solution?

56 Basic Laboratory Operations

 Experiment 1 Report Sheet
Basic Laboratory Operations
Date __________ Lab Sec. ______ Name ____________________________________________ Desk No. __________

A. Bunsen Burner
1
1. Instructor’s Approval of a well-adjusted Bunsen flame: _________________________________________________
2. a. At right, draw a sketch of the heat zones for a nonluminous flame as directed
with the wire gauze positioned parallel to the burner barrel. Label the “cool”
and “hot” zones. 2
b. What happens to the “cool” and “hot” zones of a nonluminous flame, when the
air-control valve is closed (nearly closed)? Explain. 3

B. Laboratory Balances
4
1. Determine the mass of the following objects on your assigned balance. Express your results with the correct sensitivity.
Balance no. ________________ Sensitivity ________________
Description of Object
Object (size or volume) Mass (g)
Test tube ______________________ ______________________
Beaker ______________________ ______________________
Spatula ______________________ ______________________
Graduated cylinder ______________________ ______________________
Other (see instructor) ______________________ ______________________
5
2. Precision of Measurement. Balance no. ______________________
Mass of graduated cylinder (if not tared) ______________________
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Trial 6
a. Mass of cylinder
+H2O (l) (g) ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________
b. Mass of 7 mL
H2O(l) (g) ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________
c. Average mass of 7 mL H2O(l) (g) _____________ Data Analysis, B

Comment on the precision of the mass measurements for the water samples.

Experiment 1 57
C. Density
6
Balance no. ______________
7
1. Solid Unknown Number ______________ Trial 1 Trial 2
a. Tared mass of solid (g) ______________________ ______________________
b. Volume of water (cm3) ______________________ ______________________
3
c. Volume of water and solid (cm ) ______________________ ______________________
d. Volume of solid (cm3) ______________________ ______________________
3
e. Density of solid (g/cm ) ______________________ ______________________
f. Average density of solid (g/cm3) ______________________
2,3. Liquid: Water and Unknown Water Liquid Unknown No. _______10
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 1 Trial 2
a. Mass of beaker (g) ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
b. Mass of beaker + liquid (g) ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
c. Mass of liquid (g) ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
d. Volume of liquid (mL) ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
8
e. Density of liquid (g/mL) ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________
f. Average density of liquid (g/mL) ______________ ______________

9
Class Data/Group 1 2 3 4 5 6

Density of Water _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______

Average density of water at room temperature: Data Analysis, B

Laboratory Questions
Circle the questions that have been assigned.
1. Part A.1. If you have a properly adjusted hot flame, which is pale blue with three distinct cones, what is observed if the
gas control value is slightly closed? Explain.
2. Part A.1. If you have a properly adjusted hot flame, which is pale blue with three distinct cones, what is observed if the
air-control valve is slightly closed? Explain.
3. Part A.2. A burning candle produces a luminous flame. What is the fuel for the burning candle? Why is
the flame luminous?
4. Part C.1c. The solid is not completely submerged in the water. Will this technique error increase,
decrease, or have no effect on the reported density of the solid? Explain.
5. Part C.2. Suppose that after delivery several drops of the water cling to the inner wall of the pipet
(because the pipet wall is dirty). Will this technique error increase, decrease, or have no effect on the
reported density of water? Explain. See drawing at right.
6. Part C.3. The unknown liquid is volatile. If some of the liquid evaporates between the time the liquid is
delivered to the beaker and the time its mass is measured, will the reported density of the liquid be too
high, too low, or unaffected? Explain.

58 Basic Laboratory Operations