Emma Gau

AP Chemistry
9/9/14
Finding the Ratio of Moles of Reactants in a Chemical Reaction
Purpose: The purpose of this lab is to find the ratio of moles of reactants in a chemical reaction between
sodium hypochlorite and an unknown solution B.

Materials
NaCLO, 0.5M, 175mL
Solution B, 0.5M, 175 mL

Equipment
Styrofoam cup
Thermometer
2 400mL beakers
2 10mL graduated cylinders
50mL graduated cylinder

Procedure
1. Get 175 mL of NaClO solution and 175 mL of solution b in 400 mL beakers.
2. Measure the temperatures of both solutions and record them. Using the same
thermometer, you will see that they should be the same temperature.
3. Measure 5.0 mL of NaClO solution in a 10 mL graduated cylinder and pour in a Styrofoam
cup. Measure 45.0 mL of solution B in a 50 mL graduated cylinder and add to the cup.
4. Stir the solution using a thermometer, then record the max temperature reached.
5. Pour the solution out, clean the cup and thermometer, then repeat the above using
different ratios that still add up to 50.0 mL.
6. Keep testing with different ratios until you have 3 measurements on each side of the ratio
with the greatest temperature difference.
7. Plot the data and draw 2 straight best-fitting lines to determine their point of intersection.
Then find the stoichiometric mole ratio of reactants from the point of intersection.

Data
mL NaClO
0
10
20
30
35
40
42.5
45
50

mL solution B
50
40
30
20
15
10
7.5
5
0

Final temp. (C)

31.1
31.3
32
33.2
33.1
34.1
33.7
33.6
31.1

Change in temp. (C)

0
0.2
0.9
2.1
2
3
2.6
2.5
0

Change in Temperature Vs. Reactant volume Ratios

3.5

Change in Temp. (C)

3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

mL NaClO(+mL "B")=50 mL

Analysis
1. Explain how the method of continuous variations is used to determine the mole ratio of
reactants in a chemical reaction.
Mixing distinctive volumes of the two reactants brought about diverse temperature
changes. The temperature change was corresponding to the amount of reactants. The test
was outlined so that the volume of solution and the number of moles of reactants was
consistent for the arrangement of tests. In this manner, the ideal ratio is the proportion of
the volume of reactants that consumed the greatest amount of reactants, formed the

greatest amount of products, and produced the highest temperature and greatest
temperature change.

2. Why was the total volume of solutions used was kept constant in all trials?
A consistent volume of reactants must be kept with the goal that the changes in
temperature could be directly compared on the grounds that they are corresponding with
the amount of reactants in the response.
3. Is it necessary that the concentrations of the two solutions be the same?
Yes. For the stoichiometric mole proportion of the reactants to be correct after the results
of the trial are charted, the concentrations of the two results must be the same. This is
because molar concentration is moles of solute divided by liter of solution.
4. What is meant by the term limiting reagent?
The limiting reagent is a reactant in a chemical reaction that limits the amount of product
able to be produced before the substance is used up.
5. Which measurement, temperature or volume, limits the precision of the data obtained in
the experiment? Explain.
The measurement of temperature limits the precision of the data to three significant
figures. Measurement of volume limits the precision of the data to two significant figures
because of the graduated cylinders.
6. Which reactant is the limiting reagent along the upward sloping line of the graph? Which
is the limiting reagent along the downward sloping line?
The limiting reagent along the upward sloping line of the graph is solution B, the limiting
reagent along the downward sloping line is NaClO.
7. What other physical properties, other than temperature change, could be used in the
method of continuous variations?
The mass of the precipitate and the color change could be used in the method.
8. Why is it more accurate to use the point of intersection of the two lines to find the mole
ratio rather than the ratio associated with the greatest temperature change?
The intersection of the two lines is closer to the optimum ratio of volumes than any of the
volumes actually tested. Although the ratio may have the greatest temperature change out
of all the volumes tested, there could be an untested volume that has an even greater
temperature change. The intersection of the two lines represents a close approximation of
the volumes. Unless the optimum ratio was indeed experimented with, the only accurate
method would be linear regression.
9. If the two solutions used are not at the same initial temperature, a correction must be
made to find the correct change in temperature. How should this be done?
The temperature correction should be through a weighted average. This method takes into
account how much of the solution is NaClO and how much is solution B. The temperature

can be calculated by what percentage of the solution is NaClO and what percentage is
solution B.

Conclusion
In this lab we found the ratio of moles of reactants in a chemical reaction between sodium
hypochlorite and an unknown solution B. To do this, different ratios of each reactant were
experimented with. After graphing the data obtained through numerous trials, the reactants showed an
optimum volumetric ratio approximately 40 mL of NaClO and 10 mL of solution B. The stoichiometric
mole ratio of NaClO to solution B is 3:1. This 3:1 ratio of reactants will consume the greatest amount of
reactants, form the greatest amount of products, and produce the most heat and temperature change.
A possible source of error in this experiment would be due to the equipment used. The
thermometer was only capable of accurately measuring up to three significant figures, while the
graduated cylinder was only capable of accurately measuring up to two significant figures. This source of
error could have easily affected the mole ratio of the two reactants presented in this experiment.