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Determination of the Molar Mass of a Volatile Liquid

Banda, Marybeth Hope T.
Abstract: In this experiment the molar mass of a volatile liquid was determined. The molar mass was calculated
by measuring the temperature, pressure, and volume of the gas. Experimental results show that the molar mass
of the volatile liquid is 49.64 g/mol. This result is higher than the actual value of the molar mass which is 46.08
g/mol.
Introduction
The determination of the molar mass of a volatile
liquid is important in the classification of newly
synthesized chemical compounds. The method
used in this experiment is one of the simplest
method in the determination of the molecular
masses of chemical compounds.
The working concept of the method used in the
experiment is the ideal gas law: PV=nRT. If the
pressure, volume, and temperature of the gas can
be measured, then the amount of gas can be
calculated. Further, if the mass of the gas can be
measured, then molar mass of the gas can also be
calculated:

beaker. The water was heated to boiling. After

wrapping the flask with aluminum umbrella and
Teflon tape, the flask was then immersed in the
boiling water up to its neck until no Schlieren
pattern was observed and until no vapor was
observed to evolve from the flask. The evolution of
vapor from the flask was tested by hovering a
clean, dry watch glass over the pinhole in the
aluminum cover to check for condensation.
Meanwhile, the temperature of the water bath was
recorded. The flask was heated further for two
minutes. This was done to permit the excess vapor
to escape and to equalize the pressure between
the interior and exterior of the flask.

The objective of this experiment is to determine

the molar mass of a volatile liquid.
Experimental Methods
The materials used in this experiment are: iron
clamp, aluminum foil, boiling chips, iron ring, hot
plate, thermometer, thermometer holder, Teflon
tape, 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask, syringe, 400 mL
beaker, and iron ring.
The molar mass of the volatile liquid was
determined by measuring the temperature,
pressure, mass, and volume.
The atmospheric pressure was recorded. An
Erlenmeyer flask covered with aluminum foil was
weighed. Then, three milliliters of the unknown
solution was injected through the aluminum foil.
The sides of the flask was wrapped with an
aluminum umbrella and Teflon tape. Meanwhile,
water and some boiling chips were added to a

Figure 1. The Set up

After which, the flask was removed from the
boiling water and was allowed to cool to room
temperature before running tap water along its
exterior. The flask was dried and then weighed.
Two trials were made. After the trials, the flask
that was used was filled with water up to its neck
and then weighed.

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2 and the corresponding masses. The mass of gas
was obtained by subtracting the mass of flask and
foil from the mass of the flask and foil with gas
sample.

Results and Discussion

The molar mass of a volatile liquid can be
calculated
when
its
pressure,
volume,
temperature, and mass can be measured.
According to the equation:

Table 3. Data for Molar Mass of Volatile Liquid

Parameters
Temperature of water
bath (K)
Atmospheric Pressure
(atm)

Trial 1

Trial 2

366.15

367.15

0.975

0.975

Table 1. Weighing Data For Volume Of The Flask

Mass of gas (g)

0.2526

0.2016

Parameters
Mass of flask with foil
cover (g)
Mass of flask filled with
water and covered with
foil (g)
Mass of water (g)
Density of water (g/mL)

Volume of flask (mL)

141.1511

141.1511

Molar Mass (g)

55.14867

44.13435

Data
78.0689

Table 2 shows the data that was used in the

calculation of the molar mass of the volatile liquid
and the calculated molar mass for Trials 1 and 2.
The molar mass of the gas of the volatile liquid
was calculated as shown below:

219.22
141.1511
1.00

Table 1 shows the weighing data for the

calculation of the volume of the flask. The mass of
water was obtained by subtracting the mass of the
flask with foil from the mass of the flask with foil
filled with water. The volume of the flask was then
computed by multiplying the mass of water with
the density of water as shown by the calculation
below:

For Trial 1

)(
(

)(

)(

)
)

For Trial 2

As the unknown test liquid was evaporated, it

displaces the air molecules in the flask and fills the
flask with its own molecules. A change in the
mass of the flask was then observed. This mass
difference is the mass of the gas molecules.
Table 2. Mass of gas
Parameter
Mass of flask, foil, and
gas sample (g)
Mass of flask and foil
(g)

Trial 1

Trial 2

78.3215

78.2705

78.0689

78.0689

Mass of gas (g)

0.2526

0.2016

Table 2 shows the data that was used in the

computation of the mass of the gas for Trials 1 and

)(
(

)(

)(

)
)

The mean molar mass was calculated and was

found to be 49.64 g/mol; as shown on the
calculation below:

The identity of the unknown test solution was

revealed to be ethanol; with a molar mass equal to

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46.08 g/mol. The percentage error was calculated
as follows:
|

|
|

This error in the determination of the molar mass

is attributed to the high altitude of the locality
where the experiment was conducted. This lowers
the pressure and consequently results to a higher
molar mass than expected.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Experimental results show that the molar mass of
the volatile liquid is 49.64 g/mol. This calculated
molar mass is 7.729% higher than the actual
molar mass of the gas which was ethanol.
For future conduct of the experiment, the author
recommends that more Trials be made to increase
the accuracy of the experimental results.

References
15 Molar Mass of a Volatile Liquid. (n.d.). Retrieved
from
www.lexington.k12.oh.us/hs/strickler/co
ncrete/index.php/...file/.../85/
Determination of the Molar Mass of a Volatile
Liquid by Vapor Density. (n.d.). Retrieved
from
http://www.chemtopics.com/aplab/mmv
liq.pdf
Determining the Molar Mass of a Vapor. (n.d.).
Retrieved from Chemistry Teacher
Resources:
http://chemmovies.unl.edu/chemistry/d
ochem/DoChem078.html
Gelder, J. I., Gettys, N. S., & Eubanks, I. D. (n.d.).
EXPERIMENT 8: MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF
A VOLATILE LIQUID. Retrieved from AP
Chemistry by Satellite:
http://intro.chem.okstate.edu/HTML/SE
XP8.HTM