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R Lab Postlab

The document summarizes a lab experiment to determine the gas constant (R) by measuring the volume of hydrogen gas produced from the reaction of magnesium and hydrochloric acid. Key measurements were recorded, including the mass of magnesium used, volume of hydrogen gas produced, temperature, and pressure. The calculated value of R from the experiment (0.0827 atm*L/(mol*K)) was higher than the accepted value (0.08206 atm*L/(mol*K)), with a percent error of 0.8%. Sources of error that could account for the difference are discussed, such as possible gas leaks or an incomplete reaction. Performing multiple trials would help reduce random errors and obtain a more precise value for R

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nicolaas.k15
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13 views

R Lab Postlab

The document summarizes a lab experiment to determine the gas constant (R) by measuring the volume of hydrogen gas produced from the reaction of magnesium and hydrochloric acid. Key measurements were recorded, including the mass of magnesium used, volume of hydrogen gas produced, temperature, and pressure. The calculated value of R from the experiment (0.0827 atm*L/(mol*K)) was higher than the accepted value (0.08206 atm*L/(mol*K)), with a percent error of 0.8%. Sources of error that could account for the difference are discussed, such as possible gas leaks or an incomplete reaction. Performing multiple trials would help reduce random errors and obtain a more precise value for R

Uploaded by

nicolaas.k15
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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R Lab Postlab

Nicolaas Kramer
11/03/23
Lab partners: David, Caroline

Methods/Procedure

Conducting the experiment, a 300 mL beaker was filled with tap water, a 3-4cm coiled

magnesium strip was folded into a small rectangle, and the weight of the magnesium strip was noted(g). A

25cm copper wire was circularly wrapped around the magnesium rectangle, encompassing it completely

with about 1/2 to 2 inches of it left straightened out. Then, 10 mL of 6 M HCl was poured in the

eudiometer tube which was clamped and standing upright. The sticking out part of the copper wire was

weaved inside the stopper and attached to the top of the eudiometer. The magnesium strip was on the

inside of the eudiometer, in contact with the 6M HCl. The beaker with tap water was put under the

eudiometer which was then swiftly turned around, causing the stopper to be encompassed by the tap

water. When the formation of bubbles halted, key measurements including the H2 volume(mL), water

temperature(C), vapor pressure(mmHg), atmospheric pressure taken from the weather app(mmHg), and

the solutions height(mm)were recorded. The solutions height was measured from the bottom of solution

until the meniscus in the eudiometer.


Results

Mass of strip of Mg (g) 0.038g

Volume of Hydrogen gas (mL) 39.5ml

Temperature (C) 23C

Barometric Pressure(mmHg) 765.74mmHg

Water Vapor Pressure(mmHg) 21.068mmHg

Height of Solution (mm) 129mm


Percent error = (0.0827 - 0.08206)/0.08206
Percent error = 0.8%

The observations made were that the HCl started sinking from the top of eudiometer into the

beaker. One HCL reached magnesium H2 gas started forming. The formation of bubbles rapidly sped up

throughout the reaction until they stoped forming. Not only, but the mg Strip dissolved, going from a solid

state to a gaseous state.


Discussion

Our results stated that the gas constant(R) was 0.0827(atm x L)/(mol x K) which is larger than the

universally used gas constant which is 0.08206(atm x L)/(mol x K). The percent error in our experiment

was 0.8%. This could have happened due to many reasons including: a tiny whole ontop of the

eudiometer causing gas to leak out, incomplete reaction time and if other gasses were in the eudiometer

not being H2. An incomplete reaction of magnesium with hydrochloric acid (HCl) would result in less

hydrogen gas being produced than there should have. This leads to a higher R value because if there are

less moles of hydrogen gas (H2), the pressure and volume will be divided by a number smaller than it

should since pv/nt = R. This results in a lower number of moles of H2 generated compared to what you

would expect based on the stoichiometry of the reaction. To obtain an accurate value of R, it is crucial to

ensure that the reaction between magnesium and HCl is complete, and all the magnesium is reacted to

produce hydrogen gas. Our results were pretty accurate since 0.0827 is very close to 0.08206 but what

could have made it be even closer is if we performed multiple trials of the experiment and averaged the

values out. Doing so would reduce random errors and in general be more precise. A single result, even if

it has a large percent error, does not necessarily refute or confirm the true value of the ideal gas constant

(R) because scientific measurements inherently contain sources of error and variability. To have R be

changed to a value decided by me it would have to repetitively be the same based on the principles of

reproducibility and reliability. R is never accurately findable because it is a experimental value and the

only way to actually get R would be to perfecly measure Pressure, Volume, Moles and Temperature and

perform thousands of trials.

Bibliography

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