Republic of the Philippines

Region XII
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Department of Biology
MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY
General Santos City 9500

ASSIGNMENTS 1, 2, AND PROBLEM SOLVING

A Laboratory Assignment Presented to the Science Department Mindanao State

University General Santos City

as a Partial requirement for CHM020 Analytical Methods for Biology for A.Y. 2022-2023

Submitted to Prof. Ramon Eduque

Submitted by
BENDIJO, AZELL EDWARD
PADECIO, JEDIDIAH MANUEL L.
PELIGRO, PRINCESS HANNAH S.
TULING, HARVEY JAY

MAY 2022
 Republic of the Philippines
Region XII
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Department of Biology
MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY
General Santos City 9500

ASSIGNMENT 1

List five examples of the difference between Specific and Selective in Chemistry
and Biology context. (Chat GPT Edition)

1. Specificity in Chemistry: In chemical reactions, specificity refers to the ability

of a reactant to selectively react with a particular reagent or catalyst, resulting in
the formation of a specific product. For example, enzymes in biology exhibit
high specificity by catalyzing specific reactions and interacting selectively with
specific substrates.

Selective in Chemistry: Selectivity in chemistry refers to the ability of a

compound or process to preferentially target a specific functional group or site
within a molecule. For instance, selective reduction reactions can selectively
reduce one functional group while leaving others unaffected.

2. Specificity in Biology: In biology, specificity refers to the ability of molecules,

such as antibodies, to bind specifically to their target molecules, such as
antigens or receptors. This specificity allows for precise recognition and
interaction between molecules, enabling various biological processes.

Selectivity in Biology: Selectivity in biology refers to the ability of certain

molecules, such as drugs or toxins, to target and affect specific cell types or
biochemical pathways. For example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs) are drugs that specifically target serotonin transporters, modulating
serotonin levels in the brain.

3. Specificity in Chemistry: In analytical chemistry, specificity refers to the ability

of a measurement or analysis method to provide accurate and reliable results
for a particular compound or analyte. Specific methods can differentiate
between closely related compounds and provide specific identification and
quantification.

Selective Extraction in Chemistry: Selective extraction techniques in chemistry

allow for the preferential extraction of specific compounds or elements from a
mixture. For example, selective solvent extraction can separate metals based on
their affinity for a particular solvent or extractant.
 Republic of the Philippines
Region XII
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Department of Biology
MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY
General Santos City 9500

4. Specificity in Biology: In molecular biology, specificity refers to the recognition

and binding of complementary sequences of DNA or RNA by enzymes, such as
polymerases or restriction enzymes. This specificity is crucial for processes like
DNA replication, transcription, and gene editing.

Selective Breeding in Biology: Selective breeding in biology involves the

deliberate breeding of organisms with specific desired traits or characteristics.
This process aims to selectively propagate certain genes or phenotypes, leading
to the development of new plant varieties or animal breeds with specific traits.

5. Specificity in Chemistry: In chemical analysis, specificity refers to the ability of

a measurement technique or assay to accurately detect and quantify a
particular compound or analyte in the presence of other interfering substances.
Specific methods can provide reliable and precise results even in complex
sample matrices.

Selective Catalysis in Chemistry: Selective catalysis in chemistry involves the

use of catalysts that can selectively promote specific reactions while suppressing
undesired side reactions. This selectivity allows for the controlled synthesis of
desired products and reduces the formation of unwanted byproducts.
 Republic of the Philippines
Region XII
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Department of Biology
MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY
General Santos City 9500

ASSIGNMENT 2

COPRECIPITATION is a phenomenon where one or more substances are

incorporated into the precipitate during its formation.

In coprecipitation, equilibrium processes refer to the chemical reactions and

equilibria that occur during the precipitation of a solid phase from a solution containing
multiple dissolved species. Another equilibrium process in coprecipitation involves the
solubility of the precipitate. The precipitate formed during coprecipitation may have a
certain solubility in the solution. If the solubility is exceeded, the precipitate can dissolve
back into the solution, leading to a reversible equilibrium between the solid and
dissolved forms. This equilibrium is influenced by factors such as temperature, pH, and
the presence of other ions in the solution.

Surface absorption in coprecipitation refers to the process by which one or

more substances adsorb onto the surface of precipitate particles during coprecipitation.
Surface absorption happens when other substances from the solution adsorb onto the
surface of the precipitate particles. This absorption process can occur through various
mechanisms, such as physical adsorption, chemical adsorption, or ion exchange. The
specific mechanism depends on the nature of the substances involved and the
conditions of the coprecipitation process.

Mixed-crystal formation refers to the process of the formation of crystals that

contain two or more different chemical components in a solid solution. In the context of
coprecipitation, it refers to the simultaneous precipitation of multiple components from a
solution, leading to the formation of mixed crystals. The kinetics of crystal growth in
coprecipitation is influenced by several factors, including the composition of the solution,
supersaturation levels, temperature, pH, stirring conditions, and the presence of
impurities.

In the context of coprecipitation, occlusion refers to the entrapment or

incorporation of one substance within the solid precipitate of another substance during
the precipitation process. It occurs when a foreign species or ion becomes trapped
within the lattice structure of the precipitating solid.

Mechanical entrapment in coprecipitation refers to a phenomenon that can

occur during the precipitation of a solid material from a solution. Mechanical entrapment
 Republic of the Philippines
Region XII
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Department of Biology
MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY
General Santos City 9500

happens when impurities or contaminants become physically trapped or enclosed within

the precipitate particles during the precipitation process. This can occur for various
reasons, such as the size and morphology of the precipitate particles, the nature of the
impurities, and the reaction conditions.
 Republic of the Philippines
Region XII
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Department of Biology
MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY
General Santos City 9500

ASSIGNMENT 4

QUESTION: A 0.7812-g sample of impure Al21CO323 decomposed with HCl; the

liberated CO2 was collected on calcium oxide and found to weigh 0.04380 g.
Calculate the percentage of aluminum in the sample.

Bard ChatGPT
To calculate the percentage of aluminum
Calculate the number of moles of CO2 in the sample, we need to determine the
produced: amount of aluminum present in the
sample, divide it by the total mass of the
n(CO2) = m(CO2) / M(CO2) = 0.04380 g / sample, and then multiply by 100 to
44.01 g/mol = 0.00101 mol express it as a percentage.

Calculate the number of moles of Al2O3 Given:

Mass of impure Al₂(CO₃)₃ sample =
in the sample:
0.7812 g
Mass of CO₂ liberated and collected =
n(Al2O3) = n(CO2) / 2 = 0.00101 mol / 2
0.04380 g
= 0.000505 mol
First, we need to determine the molar
Calculate the mass of Al2O3 in the mass of Al₂(CO₃)₃:
sample: Aluminum (Al) molar mass = 26.98 g/mol
Carbon (C) molar mass = 12.01 g/mol
m(Al2O3) = n(Al2O3) * M(Al2O3) = Oxygen (O) molar mass = 16.00 g/mol
0.000505 mol * 101.96 g/mol = 0.0512 g
Molar mass of Al₂(CO₃)₃ = (2 * Aluminum
Calculate the percentage of aluminum in molar mass) + (3 * Carbon molar mass) +
the sample: (9 * Oxygen molar mass)
Molar mass of Al₂(CO₃)₃ = (2 * 26.98
%Al = m(Al2O3) / m(sample) * 100% = g/mol) + (3 * 12.01 g/mol) + (9 * 16.00
0.0512 g / 0.7812 g * 100% = 6.54% g/mol)
Molar mass of Al₂(CO₃)₃ = 233.98 g/mol

Next, we need to calculate the number of

moles of CO₂ produced:
Moles of CO₂ = mass of CO₂ / molar mass
of CO₂
Moles of CO₂ = 0.04380 g / 44.01 g/mol
 Republic of the Philippines
Region XII
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Department of Biology
MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY
General Santos City 9500

(molar mass of CO₂)

Moles of CO₂ = 0.000995 mol

Since the balanced chemical equation

shows that Al₂(CO₃)₃ decomposes to
produce 3 moles of CO₂ for every 1 mole
of Al₂(CO₃)₃, we can determine the
number of moles of Al₂(CO₃)₃ present in
the sample.

Moles of Al₂(CO₃)₃ = (moles of CO₂

produced) / 3
Moles of Al₂(CO₃)₃ = 0.000995 mol / 3
Moles of Al₂(CO₃)₃ = 0.000332 mol

Finally, we can calculate the percentage

of aluminum in the sample:
Percentage of aluminum = (moles of
Al₂(CO₃)₃ * molar mass of Al₂(CO₃)₃) /
mass of sample * 100
Percentage of aluminum = (0.000332 mol
* 233.98 g/mol) / 0.7812 g * 100
Percentage of aluminum = 24.97%

Therefore, the percentage of aluminum in

the sample is approximately 24.97%.

COMPARISON: ChatGpT provides a more comprehensive discussion on how the

answers were solved and even provides detailed steps on what to do first before
moving on to the different steps resulting in the final answer. On the other hand, Google
Bard lacks specificity and detail when compared to Chat Gpt and their answers differ on
certain steps like the number of moles of CO₂ produced, Moles of Al₂(CO₃)₃ produced,
and the final percentage of aluminum in the sample. Although it may seem that Chat
GpT is more on the right side of things due to its specific processes and wordy
discussions, it still has loopholes and areas of uncertainty. To be sure, it would be better
to study the process and use Chat GpT as a guide to arrive at a more certain answer.