Kevin Santos 34 Date Submitted: 1/5/2011

Mise Sebastian 35 Date Performed: 12/15/2011

Lab Report 1

“The Race is On”

I. Problem Statement:
a. The purpose of this experiment is to determine the difference in diffusion rate of a
heavier gas molecule with a lighter one. Through this experiment, we aim to
answer the following questions:
i. How does the molecular weight affect the rate of diffusion of gasses?
ii. How does a vertical position of the glass diffusion tube affect the diffusion
rate of the gasses?
II. Objectives:
a. This experiment to determine the difference in diffusion rate of a heavier gas
molecule with a lighter one, we aim to achieve the following objectives:
i. To determine how the molecular weight affects the rate of diffusion of
gasses.
ii. To determine how a vertical position of the glass diffusion tube affect the
diffusion rate of the gasses.
III. Hypothesis:
a. If two gasses were placed in a glass diffusion tube, the gas with a lighter
molecular weight would diffuse faster.
b. If the glass diffusion tube is not placed in a level, horizontal position, the results
would be tampered with due to the difference in the densitites which would allow
one gas to float above the other.
IV. Experiment:
a. Materials:

i. Glass Diffusion Tube vi. Cotton Plugs

ii. Ammonia NH3 vii. Ruler
iii. Hydrochloric Acid HCl viii. Timer
iv. Medicine Droppers ix. Ethanol Alcohol
v. Cork Stoppers

b. Variables:

Controlled Variable Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Length of Glass Tube Molecular Weight of Rate of Diffusion
Time Stoppers were Gas
placed

c. Procedure:
 The glass diffusion tube was first rinsed with alcohol and all moisture and dirt was
cleared. The tube was left to dry. Once dried, the glass tube was mounted in a horizontal
position. Five drops of HCl were placed on one cotton plug and 5 drops of NH3 was
placed on another cotton plug. Both cotton plugs were then inserted into opposite ends
of the glass diffusion tube at the same time. Cork stoppers were then placed. Timing
began as soon as it was sealed. The time stopped when a halo or white ring was seen in
the glass diffusion tube. Using a ruler, the distance of from the center ring to the cotton
plugs were measured.

Several trials were done. Before each trial, the glass diffusion tubes were cleaned
thouroughly with alcohol.

V. Data and Results:

Distance Travelled by Distance Travelled by Rate Rate

Trial No. Time (sec)
NH3 (cm) HCl (cm) NH3 HCl
0.124
1 20.50 15.00 165 0.0909
2
0.152
2 21.40 14.10 140 0.1007
8
0.150
3 22.00 15.50 146 0.1061
6
0.142
Average 21.30 14.87 150 0.0992
5

VI. Analysis of Data:

When Hydrochloric Acid reacts with Ammonia in the presence of water vapor, they
form Ammonium Chloride, a white solid substance. In the glass tubing, we see this white
ring appear inside, a clear indication of a reaction from Hydrochloric Acid and Ammonia
create Ammonium Chloride.

Without prior computation for their rates, we can see that generally Ammonia
travelled a longer distance compared to Hydrochloric Acid. From this information, we can
therefore see that Ammonia travelled faster. Looking at the molar mass of the two
substances, Ammonia has 17g and Hydrochloric Acid has 36g and now knowing that
Ammonia diffused faser, we can conclude that a lighter molecule of gas would diffuse
faster.

Upon testing if placing the glass tubing in a vertical position affected the result of the
experiment. Contrary to prior assumptions, there was no change in the results. Ammonia
still diffused faster than Hydrochloric Acid and even travelled at a closely similar
distance. Gas would diffuse therefore in a given container unaffected by the position it is
placed in.
 Using Graham’s law, we know that rate of a gas is inversely proportional to the
square root of its molecular mass. Rate1/Rate2 = Square Root of (Mass2/Mass1). Given
a gas of a known weight, we can determine the mass of an unknown gas. By using a
similar experiment using a glass diffusion tube, we can derive the rate of both gases by
dividing the distance they travelled over the time. Given this information, we can derive
the mass of the unknown gas by modifying the equation to Rate1*Square Root of
Mass1/Rate2 = Square Root of Mass2.
VII. Conclusion:

We therefore conclude that our hypothesis was correct. The lighter gas, Ammonia,
diffused at a much faster rate in the glass diffusion tube compared to the heavier gas,
Hydrochloric Acid. Although, upon changing the position of the glass diffusion tube, the
results were not changed contrary to the hypothesis.

VIII. Recommendation:

We suggest testing various types of gasses for this experiment. Also, it would be
recommendable to find a more accurate way of regulating the amount of the liquid
placed on each of the cotton balls.

IX. Sources:
a. http://library.thinkquest.org/12596/graham.html
b. http://www.tutorvista.com/chemistry/grahams-law-of-diffusion