Determination of the Molar Mass of an

Unknown Metal
The Chemical Reaction and its Mass-Mole Relationships

To determine the molar mass of an unknown metal, which we will

represent generically as “M”. we will react it with hydrochloric acid to
produce hydrogen gas as shown in this reaction equation:

M(s) + 2 HCl(aq) ---> MCl2(aq) + H2(g)

We will measure the properties of the hydrogen gas produced and with
the Ideal Gas Law calculate the number of moles of gas formed. Since
the balanced reaction equation has a 1:1 ratio of M to H2 the moles of
hydrogen are numerically equal to the moles of metal used in the
reaction. Since we can calculate the moles of metal used this way, all
that is needed is the weight of the sample of metal to calculate the
molar mass of the unknown by dividing the mass (g) of the metal by
the moles of metal. Since this reaction equation is balanced only for
metals that form MCl2 when they react with acid, our unknown will be
limited to those metals that form +2 cations. Once we have calculated
the molar mass, a quick scan of the atomic masses of the elements on
the periodic table will allow us to identify the metal.

The Ideal Gas Law

In the reaction shown above the H2 gas produced obeys the Ideal Gas
Law. In, fact at everyday temperatures and pressures, all gases obey
the Ideal Gas Law. This gas law combines together all the major
properties of a gas: pressure, volume, temperature and amount (moles)
of gas. The algebraic expression for this law is:

PV = nRT

where P is the pressure of the gas in atmospheres (atm), V is the

volume in liters (L), n is the moles of gas, R is the Ideal Gas Constant
and has a value of 0.0821 atm-L/mole-K and T is the temperature of the
gas in degrees Kelvin (K). With this algebraic equation and the
measurement of any three properties of a gas, the fourth property can

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be calculated. For example, if P, V and T are measured, then the moles
of gas can be found by substituting these measured values into the
Ideal Gas Law equation, along with the value for R and solving for the
moles of gas.

In most laboratories the properties of P, V and T are often measured in

units different from those used in the Ideal Gas Law. In the lab,
pressure is typically measured in mm Hg or torr, volume is typically
measured in milliliters (mL) and temperature is typically measured in
degrees Celsius (°C). Properties of a gas measured with the these
units must be converted to those in the Ideal Gas Constant before
being used in the Ideal Gas Law. To do this you can use the following
conversion factors: 760 torr (or mm Hg) = 1 atm, 1 L = 1000 mL and K =
273 + °C.

Procedure

Part I: Formation of Groups

Work in groups of two or three. You will be assigned one of the
unknown metal by your instructor and you should do three or four
trials.

Part II: Determination of the Amount of Gas Produced

To determine the amount of gas produced in this reaction, the pressure
of gas produced at constant volume can be measured or the volume of
the gas at constant pressure can be measured. In this experiment, you
will measure the pressure of the gas produced at constant volume. In
either case, the temperature of the gas (which should be the same as
the temperature in the room) must be also be measured and the mass
of each sample of metal.

Measuring the Change in Pressure at Constant Volume using Vernier

LabPro and Pressure Sensor

1. Obtain a 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask that you will use for the
experiment. Determine and record the available volume of the flask
that the hydrogen gas will occupy as it is produced from the reaction
of the solid metal and the hydrochloric acid solution. Account for the
following items when you determine the volume of your flask:
 A 125 mL flask does not have a volume of precisely 125 mL.

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  During the experiment, you will seal the flask with a rubber
stopper and the stopper will occupy some of the volume of the
flask.
 You will add 5 mL of solution (6M HCl solution) to the flask.

2. The remaining equipment set-up is shown in Figure 1 below:

Figure 1: Experimental Set-up for Collecting Pressure Data

Note: Use a wet flask. This eliminates the need to do a calculation to
correct for water vapor pressure in the flask as it will be a constant.

3. Obtain a piece of metal of the size or mass indicated by your

instructor. Measure and record its mass. Place the metal in a clean but
wet 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask.

4. Prepare a room temperature water bath in a large beaker. The bath

should be deep enough to completely cover the gas level in the
Erlenmeyer flask.

5. Connect a Gas Pressure Sensor to Channel 1 of the Vernier

computer interface. Connect a Temperature Probe into Channel 2 of
the interface. Connect the interface to the computer with the proper
cable

6. Use the clear tubing to connect the white rubber stopper to the Gas
Pressure Sensor. (About one-half turn of the fittings will secure the
tubing tightly.) Twist the white stopper snugly into the neck of the
Erlenmeyer flask to avoid losing any of the hydrogen gas that will be

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produced in the reaction (see Figure 1). Important: Close the valve on
the white stopper by turning the white handle so it is perpendicular
with the valve stem.

7. Obtain a small amount of 6.0 M hydrochloric acid. CAUTION: Handle

the hydrochloric acid with care. It can cause painful burns if it comes
in contact with the skin. Draw 5.0 mL of HCl solution into the 20 mL
syringe. Thread the syringe onto the two-way valve on the white
stopper (see Figure 1). Submerge the Erlenmeyer flask into the water
bath. Position the Temperature Probe in the water bath so that the tip
of the probe is not touching the beaker.

8. Start the Logger Pro program on your computer by opening the file
“Molar Mass of a Metal”. (Look on the desktop)

9. With the flask still submerged in the water bath, click to begin data
collection. After about 20 seconds, open the two-way valve directly
below the syringe, press the plunger to add all of the 5 mL of HCl
solution to the flask, and close the two-way valve.

10. Gently swirl the flask, while keeping it immersed in the water bath,
as the reaction proceeds. Data collection will stop after 5 minutes. You
may click to end data collection before 5 minutes have elapsed if the
pressure has reached its peak and leveled off.

11. Carefully remove the white stopper from the flask to relieve the
pressure in the flask. Important: Do not open the two-way valve to
release the pressure in the flask.

12. Examine the pressure data to determine the change in pressure,

∆P, during the reaction. In addition, determine the mean temperature
of the water bath during the reaction. Record these values in your data
table.

13. Rinse the flask for a second trial. Obtain a new piece metal,
determine its mass and place it in the flask. Repeat the necessary
steps to conduct the second trial.

14. Follow the same procedure to conduct a third and fourth trial (if
time permits).

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 Report Tutorial for Gas Laws: Molar Mass Determination of a Metal
(Palko 10-28-05)

In your report, use all the headings that appear below in BOLD. Bulleted and italicized notes in
this tutorial are guidelines to help you complete the report

Purpose: To identify an unknown metal from its calculated the molar mass by measuring the
mass of a metal sample and then the volume, temperature and pressure of the gas produced when
the metal reacts completely with hydrochloric acid.

Procedure:
 Make a list of the students in your group and describe the major roles they played in the
experiment.

 Indicate the unknown number or letter of the metal you were assigned if this information
was provided. In some cases, only one metal is used.

Table of Data For Part II (reproduce this table in your lab notebook and turn in a copy of your
notebook entry with the report)
Trial Number
Mass of Metal Sample (g)
Temperature of Gas (°C)
Initial Pressure of Gas (torr)
Final Pressure of Gas (torr)
Net Pressure of Gas (torr)
Volume of Flask (mL)

Table of Results for Part II

 Create the following results table:

Trial Number
Moles of Gas = Moles of Metal (moles of M)
n = PV/RT (R = 0.08206 L*atm/K*mol)
Molar Mass of Metal
MM = g of M / moles of M

(Optional: Create a spreadsheet to do your calculations)

Calculations: (include)

 Example calculation of the moles of gas (and metal), the molar mass of the metal.

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Conclusions

1. Calculate the average value for the molar mass for the class. This may be done for you on
the class data summary spreadsheet.
2. Use this average value as the accepted value and calculate a percent error for each of your
trials.
3. How large is the range of molar mass values?. What was mesured during the lab? Does it
appear that the variation in the molar masses is due to measurement uncertainties? If yes,
what measurement seems to have the greatest uncertainty? If no, what other source(s) of
error could explain any discrepancies in your results?
4. Use your average value for the molar mass to identify the metal.
5. Compare the experimental molar mass of the metal with the actual molar mass of the metal
you’ve identified as the unkown. Be specific. Do not answer simply “They are close”
without explanation or evidence to support your statement. Does your selection of metal
make sense? For example, it is unlikely that sodium would be the unknown metal due to
discrepancies in the appearance of the unknown and sodium.
6. How would using a sample of metal that had a larger molar mass but mass equal to the one
you used affect the data collected? (Answer in terms of the pressure change that results
and the mole relationships in the reaction equation)
7. Create a list of metals that could NOT be identified in this manner since they will not react with
HCl. (Hint: Check the activity series).

Follow Up Problem

An alternative method to determine the molar mass of the metal reacted would be to collect the
gas using water displacement. Use the sample data below to determine the molar mass and
identity of the metal reacted:

0.056 g of a metal is reacted with excess HCl to produce 22.8 ml of hydrogen collected by
water displacement at 25 C and a room pressure of 725 torr. The vapor pressure of water at
this temperature is 24 torr.