Lab Report 28 Molar Volume of Hydrogen Gas

Monica Heard
Period 5
April 10, 2013
Lab Report #28
Lab Partner: Anne Quackenbush
Molar Volume of Hydrogen Gas
Abstract: Using hydrochloric acid and magnesium the volume of hydrogen was found,
calculations were performed and showed that error occurred. The percent error was positive
which implies the reaction wasn’t complete when the data was taken. There were many
important factors in the experiment that could have impacted the results such as STP, an accurate
measurement of a very small piece of magnesium, and air bubbles under the shrink wrap.
Introduction: To measure the mass and volume of a gas is difficult because the gas like
hydrogen will fill the container it is placed in to the volume will change along with the mass. To
measure an accurately the gas has to be a STP (Standard Temperature and Pressure). Thanks to
Avogadro’s number of 6.02 x 1023 particles in one mole and that there are 22.4 liters in one mole
for a gas at STP we are able to determine the volume and other important items.
n this experiment the fact that there is 22. liters in one mole was confirmed. And a
value for the molar volume of hydrogen was found for this experiment. All of these experiments
were done at a temperature near 0 .
Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to determine the molar volume of hydrogen gas by
using hydrochloric acid and magnesium to produce hydrogen.
Procedure: First the plastic basin was filled one-third full of ice then 5-10 cm of tap water was
added and the temperate using a Celsius thermometer was tested and the atmospheric pressure
was measured using a barometer. Next, about 1.0 cm long strip of magnesium was cut and
measured to the nearest 0.02 cm and recorded. With a micropipet about 3mL of 3.0 MHCl was
placed into a 10 mL graduated cylinder. After the micropipet was rinsed out it was used to fill
the rest of the graduated cylinder with tap water dripping down the inside surface. Then the
magnesium was placed on the water in the cylinder and the cylinder was quickly covered with
plastic wrap and secured with a rubber band. Next a very small hole was put on the plastic over
the cylinder using a pin then it was placed upside down in the basin of ice water. After the
reaction was complete with the reaction of the magnesium and acid producing hydrogen the gas
was chilled by placing it completely under ice water for about one minute. Lastly, the volume of
hydrogen gas was found by lifting the cylinder vertically until the liquid inside the cylinder is
equal the water in the basin. Then the volume was recorded
Results: The strip of magnesium was thin with a silver color. The hydrochloric acid was clear,
but when the reaction was happening the solution turned white and was bubbling.
Trial 1 Trial 2
length of Mg strip (cm)

1.01 cm .99 cm
volume of hydrogen collected (mL)

8.7 mL 7.4 mL
temperature of water in basin

0 0
atmospheric pressure (mm Hg)

768.2 mm Hg 768.2 mm Hg
Calculations
Trial 1
Mg + 2HCl  MgCl2 + H2
Trial 2
⁄
Mg + 2HCl  MgCl2 + H2
Using the atmospheric pressure of 768.2 mm Hg, length of the magnesium strip, and volume of
hydrogen collected calculations were preformed. With the results obtained the average percent
error was 20.68%.
Conclusion: The purpose of this experiment was to determine the molar volume of hydrogen
gas. The average volume collected was 8.05 mL with 8.7 mL in the first trail and 7.4 mL in the
second trial. The purpose was accomplished because the volume of hydrogen was found. The
purpose was accomplished to a high degree because the percent error was fairly low. The results
were not expected obtain no percent error because of the great chance of error and even the
smallest changes would affect the outcome. Therefore, the results were expected to contain an
imperfect outcome. The results were neither precise nor accurate due to the 1.3 mL difference of
hydrogen collected and the great percent error. Redesigning this experiment to reduce the percent
error by being in a controlled environment where STP is constant. A single replacement reaction
occurred in this experiment. The graduated cylinder was inserted into the ice water so the
magnesium strip would be in contact with the liquid so the reaction could take place and the
water in the cylinder could escape to leave only hydrogen.
Discussion: Possible error that could have occurred consists of an inaccurate measurement of the
magnesium strip because it was so small an inaccurate reading may have taken place. The
temperature may have rose and been higher than 0 and there could have been an air bubble
under the shrink wrap. Error that did occur consists of the reaction not being complete when the
data was taken. This is the reason for the percent error being positive. This lowers my confidence
in my results because the temperature rising and not being at 0 C is not STP and that is
something required for an accurate reading and experiment. The results are invalid because the
ideal amount of hydrogen that should have been obtained is 22.4 liters. f the gas temperature
was higher than 0 then that would cause a higher volume of gas to be produced. If
evaporations of the water vapor took place and was collected into the hydrogen then the volume
would be higher because more hydrogen would be added. Using a longer strip of magnesium
would cause more gas to produce which means a longer reaction would occur. The minimum
information you need to compare suppliers to propane gas is how much pressure the gas is put
under.
With the error that occurred in this experiment and other possible error the results were
highly suspect. With calculations preformed the percent error was high because 22.4 liters of
hydrogen should have been obtained. This experiment is very relevant to all of chemistry
because it proves or shows how the mole for a gas (22.4 L) was obtained.

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Monica Heard

Molar Volume of Hydrogen Gas

length of Mg strip (cm)

volume of hydrogen collected (mL)

temperature of water in basin

atmospheric pressure (mm Hg)

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