Calculations:

Stoichiometry equation: Mg(s) + 2 HCl (aq) MgCl2 (aq) +H2

(g)
Therefore 1 mole of Mg will give 1 mole of hydrogen gas.

1) Number of mole of Mg in test 1 =

0.0276 g
24.31g / mol

= 1.1353 x 10 -3 mol

Number of mole of Mg in test 2 =

0.0207 g
24.31g / mol

= 8.515 x 10 -4 mol

Number of mole of Mg in test 3 =

0.0198 g
24.31g / mol

= 8.1448 x 10 -4 mol
2) Pressure for test 1, temperature is 24.0oC
Plevel difference = hg
Plevel difference = 0.356m x 1000 kg/m3 x 10 m/s2
= 3560 Pa
= 26.7 mm Hg
PH 2 Patm PH 2O

- Plevel difference
= 760 mm Hg - 22.4 mm Hg - 26.7 mm Hg
= 710.9 mm Hg
= 0.9355 atm
Pressure for test 2, temperature is 24.0oC
Plevel difference = hg
Plevel difference = 0.401m x 1000 kg/m3 x 10 m/s2

= 4010 Pa
= 30.1 mm Hg
PH 2 Patm PH 2O

- Plevel difference
= 760 mm Hg - 22.4 mm Hg - 30.1 mm Hg
= 707.5 mm Hg
= 0.9311 atm

Pressure for test 3, temperature is 23.5oC

Plevel difference = hg
Plevel difference = 0.401m x 1000 kg/m3 x 10 m/s2
= 4010 Pa
= 30.1 mm Hg
PH 2 Patm PH 2O

- Plevel difference
= 760 mm Hg - 21.75 mm Hg - 30.1 mm Hg
= 708.15 mm Hg
= 0.9317 atm

3)

For test 1,

R=

pV
nT

0.9355atmx0.027 dm 3
1.1353 x10 3 molx 297 K

= 0.0749 L atm mol-1 K-1

For test 2,

pV
nT

R=

0.9311atmx0.0216dm 3
8.515 x104 molx 297 K

= 0.0795 L atm mol-1 K-1

For test 3,
pV
nT

R=

0.9317atmx0.0214dm 3
8.1448 x10 4 molx 296.5K

= 0.0826 L atm mol-1 K-1

4) R in test 1 is 0.0749 L atm mol-1K-1

R in test 2 is 0.0795 L atm mol-1K-1
R in test 3 is 0.0826 L atm mol-1K-1
Average value of R from test1, test 2 and test 3:
0.0749+ 0.0795+0.0826
=0.079
3

L atm mol-1K-1

5) Theoretical value of R is 0.0821 L atm mol-1K-1

Average value of R from test1 and test 2 is
mol-1K-1
0.079
0.0821

x 100% = 96.22 %

0.079

L atm

100% - 96.22% = 3.78%

Percentage of error is 3.78%

Results:
Results
Volume of unknown area = 6.10mL

Tes
1
2
3

Tes
t
1
2
3

Mass of Mg
0.0276
0.0207
0.0198

1
24.0
24.0
23.5

Reading of
29.10
34.50
34.70

Temperature(oC)
2
3
4
24.0
24.0
24.0
24.0
24.0
24.0
23.5
23.5
23.5

Volume of H2
27.00
21.60
21.40

5
24.0
24.0
23.5

Difference in
level(cm)
35.6
40.1
40.1

Average Volume of H2 gas obtained in eudiometer =

21.60+ 21.40
2

= 21.5ml
=

21.5 x 10 litres
-3

Average of difference in solution levels (mm) =

40.1+40.1
2

=40.1mm
=

40.1
13.5

2.97mmHg
Average temperature of equilibrium temperature =
=23.75 (oC)
24.0(oC)

24.0+ 23.5
2

24 +
273 = 297 K

Title:
Evaluation of the gas law constant
Objectives:
1. To study the gas law.
2. To determine the gas law constant ,R experimentally.
Introduction:
This experiment is based n the chemical reaction between
magnesium metal and hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen
gas.
Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
The ideal gas laws states: pV = nRT, where p is the pressure, Vis
the volume, n is the number of moles of gas present and T is the
absolute temperature of the gas. In this experiment, the reaction
of a magnesium and hydrochloric acid produces a known number
of moles of hydrogen gas. The gas constant, R can be calculated
by appropriate rearrangement of the Ideal Gas Law. From the
known quantity of magnesium used and the stoichiometry of
reaction the number of moles of hydrogen produce can be
calculated.
Since the hydrogen is collected in a eudiometer tube over an
aqueous solution, the gas pressure in the tube after the reaction
has ceased is the sum of the hydrogen gas pressure and the
vapour of water. The pressure of hydrogen gas can be obtain by
substracting PH2O at the temperature of the measurement from the
atmospheric pressure Patmospheric as following equation formed:
PH2 = Patmosheric PH2O (1)

In case the liquid levels( step3) cannot be equalized after the

reaction has ceased, a further correction will be required since
the pressure of the gases in the tube ( hydrogen and water
vapour) will not be equal to the atmospheric pressure. In this
case, the difference in level which represents the differential of
pressure in solution levels inside and outside the eudiometer

tube, must be converted in mmHg. This can be carry out by

dividing the measured level difference in millimetres by 13.5.
The value 13.5 is due to the ratio of densities of Hg and the
aqueous solution. The difference must then be subtracted from
the atmospheric pressure. If the levels cannot be equalized, the
pressure of hydrogen must be obtained from the following
expression.
PH2 = Patmosheric PH2O - Plevel difference (2)

Where Plevel difference = difference in heights in mm as measured /

13.5

Apparatus and Materials:

Barometer, Eudiometer tube, Copper wire, meter stick, 250ml
beaker, Mg ribbon, concentrated HCl.
Experimental procedure:
1) The mass of magnesium necessary to evolve 80ml of H 2
was calculated at STP. Approximately this quantity of
ribbon was weighed.
2) Approximately 8ml of concentrated HCl was added in the
fume hood. To the eudiometer tube. Any acid that might
have adhered to the eudiometer walls was washed down
into the tube with wash bottle. The weighed strip of Mg
ribbon was coiled into the eudiometer tube approximately
5-10cm from the open end. (Copper wire wrapped around
the ribbon helps to keep it in place). The tube was filled in
water and inverted into a 250ml beaker nearly filled with
water. The eudiometer volume should read zero if the tube
is filled completely with water. The initial reading was
recorded. The tube was clamped in the position as Figure
10.1.
3) The concentrated HCl diffused down gradually to the Mg
and reacted with it. The Mg may break free from the
copper wire. The tube was tilted to ensure the Mg does not

stick to the sides of the tube. After reaction had ceased

and the difference in level is large, it is measured as
showed in Figure 10.1. The graduations of the tube are
noted in millilitres not in millimeters. A meter stick is used.
4) The experiment was repeated for a total of three times.

Questions:
1) What would be the effect (increase, decrease or no
change) on the calculated value R of each of the following
experimental errors? Explain each answer.
a) The balance used to weigh the magnesium gives a
mass that is higher than actual.
b) Some H2 escapes into the beaker during the reaction.
c) The liquid level in the eudiometer tube is lower than
that in the beaker, but this is not taken into
consideration in the calculation.
Answer:
a) R= pV/nT
When it gives a higher mass of magnesium, this will
result in higher moles of magnesium or n. This will
result in a smaller calculated value of gas constant, R.
b) If H2 escapes then volume of gas in eudiometer will be
less and from R= pV/nT the R calculated will be smaller.
c) If liquid level in eudiometer tube is lower than in
beaker, then the
PH2 = Patmosheric PH2O - Plevel difference as the pressure inside
the tube will be higher than atmospheric pressure.
2) What two safety precautions should you take when using
concentrated HCl?
Answer:
Handle concentrated HCl carefully, wear gloves and safety
goggles throughout the experiment. Rinse with water
immediately if there is any contact of HCl on the skin.
Hydrogen gas is highly flammable, do not keep open flames
or electric sparks close when experiment is carrying out.

3) If 0.071g of magnesium is used in this experiment, what

volume of dry H2 gas would theoretically be produced if it
is measured at 20 oC and 785mmHg?

Answer:
Molar mass of magnesium= 24.3g
Number of moles of magnesium (n)=

0.071 g
24.3

= 2.92 x 10 -3 mol
Temperature is in 20 oC, convert to K = 20 +273
= 293K
P (atm)= 785mmHg/ 760
= 1.032atm
Theoretically, R= 0.0821 L atm mol-1K-1
From pV=nRT,
V= nRT/p
= 2.92 x 10-3 mol x 0.0821 L atm mol-1K-1 x 293K / 1.032
atm
= 0.068L
Conclusion
The gas law constant, R, obtained from the experiment is 0.079 L atm mol-1 K-1 compared to
the theoretical gas law constant,R is 0.0821 L atm mol-1 K-1 . In this experiment, 1 mol of
magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid, 1 mol of hydrogen gas is liberated. The larger the
mass of magnesium use to react with hydrochloric acid, the more the volume of hydrogen gas
is collected. The reaction of magnesium and hydrochloric acid is in exothermic process.
References
1. Evaluation of the gas law constant [online] Available at:
http://faculty.icc.edu/bcook/c130xp7.pdf [Acessed: 26th March 2014]
2. Gas constant [online] Available at

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_the_reaction_between_hydrochloric_acid_and_zinc_endot
hermic_or_exothermic?#slide=1[Acessed: 26th March 2014]
3. Gas law constant [online] Available at:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryglossary/a/gasconstantdef.htm
[Acessed: 26th March 2014]
4. Determination of valency of magnesium [online]
http://1chemistry.blogspot.com/2011/06/determination-of-valency-if-magnesium.html
[Acessed: 26th March 2014]

Discussion:

In this experiment, magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid to

produce hydrogen gas. 1 mol of magnesium reacted with
hydrochloric acid results in 1mol of hydrogen gas liberated. The
chemical equation shown is
Mg (s) + 2HCl
(aq) MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g). HCl is added in excess and
magnesium is the limiting reactant in this reaction. Magnesium
is the limiting reactant because it restricts the amount of
hydrogen gas generated in the reaction.The magnesium is used
up completely to react with the excess hydrochloric acid.
When 0.0276 g of magnesium ribbon is reacted with HCl,
27.00ml of hydrogen gas is liberated. When 0.0207 g of
magnesium ribbon reacted with HCl, 21.60ml of gas is liberated
and when 0.0198 g of magnesium ribbon is use to react with
HCl, the hydrogen gas liberated of 21.40ml. This shows that the
larger the mass of magnesium ribbon use to react with
hydrochloric acid, there will be larger volume of hydrogen gas
liberated.
From the ideal gas equation, pV= nRT, the equation can be
derived to be
R= pV/nT. From the ideal gas equation, we
can know that the volume of gas, V will affect the gas constant
R. To calculate R this experiment, if the volume of hydrogen gas
collected is too little, it will affect the R value. From this
experiment, the R obtain from the reaction, in test 1 is 0.0749 L
atm mol-1 K-1, in test 2 is 0.0795 L atm mol-1 K-1, and 0.0826 L
atm mol-1 K-1 in test 3.
The theoretical value of R is 0.0821 L atm mol -1 K-1. The average
value of R obtain from the experiment is 0.079 L atm mol-1K-1
compared to theoretical gas constant R that is 0.0821 L atm
mol-1 K-1. The percentage of error in R is 3.78%. The value of R
obtain from the experiment has difference compared to
theoretical R, this is due to the magnesium ribbon surface that
is corroded is not clean sufficiently before carrying out the
experiment and some of the hydrogen gas went out from the
eudiometry tube because of the piece of magnesium has
dropped from the copper water that keep it in place, some of

the hydrogen gas went into the water causes insufficient

hydrogen gas collected.

The reaction between magnesium and hydrochloric acid is an

exothermic reaction. The reaction should cause increase in
temperature of the water because this reaction releases heat
energy to the surroundings. In test 1 and test 2, the
temperature maintains in 24oC, and in test 3 the temperature of
the water remains to be 23.5oC throughout the reaction. There
is no significant change in temperature. This is due to the large
specific heat capacity of water.