CHEM 1070 Experiment 3 3.

DETERMINATION OF THE CONCENTRATION OF

ATMOSPHERIC CARBON DIOXIDE

NAME: (Yours)_____________________________________ (Partner’s)____________________________________

DATE: _________________________ DEMONSTRATOR’S NAME: __________________________________

PRE-LAB EXERCISES (20 marks)

1. The following data set was obtained from an experiment to determine the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air.
Given this data, answer the following questions.

Mass of BaCO3 precipitated 0.2170 g

Total volume of air sampled 145 L

Average temperature 30°C

Average barometric pressure 1002 hPa

a. What is the molar mass of BaCO3? g/mol [2 marks]

b. Determine the number of moles of CO2 that passed through the Ba(OH)2 solution. Show your working.

Number of moles of CO2 that passed through the Ba(OH)2 solution mol [4 marks]

2. Answer the following questions, utilizing the answers to Question 1 and the data set above.

a. What is the average temperature in Kelvin? Show your working.

Average temperature K [3 marks]

b. What is the average barometric pressure in Pascals? Show your working.

Average barometric pressure: Pa [4 marks]

CHEM 1070 Experiment 3 3.2

c. What is the total volume of air sampled in cubic meters? Show your working.

Total volume of air sampled: m3 [4 marks]

d. Given the information above, which value of the gas constant, R should you use? Include the correct units.

[3 marks]

DATA ANALYSIS (50 marks)

Determination of the number of moles of carbon dioxide collected

Ba(OH)2 (s) BaCO3 (s)

Mass of beaker/crucible +
contents g g

Mass of beaker/crucible g g

Mass of Ba(OH)2 (s) used g

Mass of BaCO3 (s) formed g

[4 marks]

From the mass of BaCO3 (s) collected, show the calculation for the number of moles of CO2 collected.

Number of moles of CO2 collected (𝑛𝐶𝑂2 )

mol
[8 marks]
CHEM 1070 Experiment 3 3.3

Air sample collection parameters

Barometric
Temperature pressure Time Flow rate

Start of experiment °C hPa L/min

Middle of
experiment °C hPa

End of experiment °C hPa L/min

Use the statistical functions on your calculator and show the calculation of the mean and  at 95% confidence interval
(C.I.) for the temperature of the laboratory.

Mean ±  at 95% C.I.

Laboratory temperature (T ) ± °C

Barometric pressure (P ) ± hPa

Flow rate ± L/min

[12 marks]

Total time taken min

Total volume of air sampled (V )

(mean flow rate × total time) L
[4 marks]

Show the calculation of the number of moles of air collected (nair). Use the ideal gas law: 𝑃𝑉 = 𝑛𝑅𝑇. Be careful that all of
the variables in the equation have the correct units.

[4 marks]

Number of moles of air collected (𝑛𝑎𝑖𝑟 )

mol
[6 marks]
CHEM 1070 Experiment 3 3.4

Determination of the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere

Show the calculation of the CO2 concentration in ppm. This is determined from the mole fraction of CO2 in air and can be
calculated by (𝑛𝐶𝑂2 ⁄𝑛𝑎𝑖𝑟 ) × 1 × 106 . Collect the values from the three other pairs on your lab bench.

[4 marks]

Carbon dioxide
concentration in air

Your group ppm

Other group 1 ppm

Other group 2 ppm

Other group 3 ppm

Use the statistical functions on your calculator and show the calculation of the mean and  at 95% C.I. for the
concentration of carbon dioxide in the laboratory air.

Mean ±  at 95% C.I.

Concentration of carbon dioxide in air ± ppm

[8 marks]
CHEM 1070 Experiment 3 3.5

FURTHER QUESTIONS (30 marks)

1. Compare the average (whole bench) value for the concentration of carbon dioxide in air you obtained with its current
level as measured in Mauna Loa. How is your value different? What can account for this? [5 marks]

2. Compare the concentration of carbon dioxide that you obtained with that from the other groups on your laboratory
bench. How do these four values differ? Do you think it was a good idea to average all of the results from the
bench? Why or why not? [5 marks]
CHEM 1070 Experiment 3 3.6

3. Identify at least two factors that would give (a) high and (b) low results in this experiment. Do you believe any of
these affected your result? Why or why not? [10 marks]

(a) factors that would give high results

(b) factors that would give low results

CHEM 1070 Experiment 3 3.7

4. In the introduction it was noted that one of the ways of determining the amount of carbon dioxide collected during
sampling was by titrating the excess Ba(OH)2 (aq) with acid after removing the BaCO3 (s). If that method were used
instead of gravimetry, there are other gases in the atmosphere that might cause error in your final value for carbon
dioxide concentration. What gas/gases might these be, and why would it/they cause error in your determination of
atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration? [5 marks]

OVERALL CONCLUSIONS/ANY OTHER COMMENTS (5 marks)