3.

0 DISCUSSION

In this experiment physical and transport properties are investigated in four sets which are
density and partial molar volumes, determination of molecular weight by viscosity
measurements, diffusion coefficient on silicahydrogel and determination of the concentration by
the help of rotation angle.

In the first set, partial molar volume of solution components are calculated by using
experimentally determined density values. Density is an intensive property which is weight of
unit volume of any substance. Pycnometer is used in the experiment for the calculation of the
density. Solution densities decreased due to the addition of alcohol since the density of alcohol is
lower than the water. In order to determine the partial molar volumes of alcohol and water 1/ρ
versus W2 graph is plotted. At the specific concentration which is given as 35 %, the tangent to
the curve gives the partial molar volume of the substances. According to the calculations and
Figure 1, partial molar volumes are obtained as 45.8574 mL/gmol for alcohol and 17.9118
mL/gmol for water.

There are some important points to be considered during this experiment. The air bubbles
in the pycnometer should be removed in order to get rid of weighting errors and overloading of
the pycnometer. The other important point is to weight the pycnometer as soon as possible after
filling them due to rapid evaporation of ethyl alcohol. For weighting a scale is used. There should
not be any air circulation around the scale and contact to the table of scale since these may result
as an error.

In the second set, molecular weight of Sodium Alginate is determined by viscosity

measurement. Oswalt viscometer and viscotester are used to determine the viscosity of the
Sodium Alginate and PVA (without Oswalt viscometer). In order to determine the molecular
weight of a substance, a viscosity versus concentration graph is used. By extrapolating the curve
to zero the viscosity value is found.

7
 In this experiment several reasons cause some errors. These reasons are; the capillary of
Ostwald Viscometer has been broken several times and it has been repaired. So, it can’t work
regularly. Also, if we slant the Oswald Viscometer the time will be increase. Hence, we can’t
calculate the viscosity correctly. Our viscotester is old, so we can’t measure correctly.

In the third set, diffusion coefficient of silicahydrogel which means the ratio of flux to
concentration gradient was obtained by the mass transfer between water and silicahydrogel. This
coefficient is calculated by using the amount of H+ diffused into the water. As the time increased,
pH of the solution decreased due to the increase in the diffused H+ amount until system reaches to
the equilibrium.
A stirrer was used in order to obtain homogeneous solution and increase diffusion rate.
Since the stirrer may cut the silicahydrogel into pieces, the mixer should not touch the
silicahydrogel. If it touches, silicahydrogel and water are mixed without diffusion. Electrode,
which measures the pH value, should not contact with mixer for protection.
The experimental value of diffusion coefficient is lower than the theoretical experimental
one. Because there may be already diffused H+ ions that exist in the water. pH-meter is not
sensitive.Therefore, we can’t measure pH value exactly.

In the fourth and last set of the experiment, we measure the rotation angle(optical
rotation) to calculate concentration of saccharose solution. This measurement is made by disk
polarimeter which looks like refractometer. By using the disk polarimeter, specific gravity,
purity, concentration, and contents of active materials can be determined. If the rotation is
clockwise the rotation angle is said to be positive, when the rotation it is counterclockwise the
angle is negative. By the given data we plot the calibration curve and by its slope we calculate the
specific optical rotation of saccharose. Then the average concentration of sample solution is
calculated as 0.9718 gr/100mL by the help of this.
There is some error in this experiment, because sensitive eyes are required for this
experiment.

8
 Viscosity changes with temperature and sometimes also with pressure.
 Specific volume is the number of cubic feet occupied by one pound of the
substance.Density is the weight per unit volume of the substance. Therefore,
specific volume is the reciprocal of the density.
 Because, specific volume is smaller than the density.So, calculation with specific
volume is easier than the density.
 Volumetric flowrate will decrease when the viscometer is slanted. Hence, the time
will increase and the experiment error will increase
 If temperature increases, viscosity decreases or vice versa.
 The nature of the material to be tested(if it is of high or low viscosity whether it is
elastic or not;the temperature of viscosity,accuracy and precision required are
important criteria for selecting viscometer.
 Capillary(f.e. Ostwaldviscometer),rotational(concentric cylinder viscometer),
moving body(falling ball viscometer)
 When the void area increases, the mass transfer area increases. Then the diffusion
increases, so the effectice diffusion coefficient increases.
 When we stir the solution, we create turbulence. By the turbulence the mass
transfer is increased.
 Concentration, the length of containing vessel, temperature and wave length of
radiation effects the rotation angle.