Determination of the Empirical Formula for Zinc Chloride Name:__________________________________________ Course______ Period:____ Prelab Show your Calculations for

the following problems 1. How many grams of sulfur would combine with 2 .1 g of potassium to form !2S"

2. # 1.$1g sample of sulfur was reacted with chlorine to form %.22g of compound. &hat is the empirical formula of the compound"

$. '.2( g of a lanthanum o)ide was decomposed and produced '.21*g of lanthanum. &hat is the empirical formula of the compound"

%. &hat is the purpose of heating the empty e+aporating dish and watch glass"

(. &hat is the purpose of the watch glass" &hy is it not necessary to ,now the indi+idual masses of the e+aporating dish and watch glass"

-mp. .ormula /inc Chloride web '10'2

Determination of the Empirical Formula for Zinc Chloride Objective: 1o e)perimentally determine the empirical formula for the product of the reaction between metallic 2inc and hydrochloric acid by reco+ering the product by e+aporating it to constant dry mass. Introduction: &hen 2inc metal is reacted with hydrochloric acid3 hydrogen gas is released and an a4ueous solution of 2inc chloride is produced. 1he 2inc chloride solution when e+aporated to dryness lea+es a pure salt product. 5n order to calculate the simplest whole number ratio of chlorine to 2inc or empirical formula for 2inc chloride3 we need to use the initial mass of 2inc and the solid product formed. 5t is important that all of the 2inc used be reacted and that large e)cess amounts of hydrochloric acid not be used. 1hen3 from the mass of 2inc consumed and the total mass of product formed3 the masses of both 2inc and chlorine may be determined. Con+erting these to number of moles and then calculating the simplest whole number ratio3 by di+iding by both by the smaller of the two numbers3 gi+es the empirical formula. 5f either of the numbers is non0integral3 then multiply by the smallest number re4uired to gi+e two whole numbers as subscripts in the formula unit: /n)Cly. Procedure 1. 6ass an empty weighing boat to the nearest '.'1g. Place appro)imately two grams of granular 2inc metal in the weighing boat and mass them to the nearest '.'1g. Calculate the mass of the 2inc. 7ecord the masses in the data table. 2. Place the 2inc in a large test tube and add 1(.'m8 of 6 hydrochloric acid. 9bser+e and record the indications of reaction initially. 7emember that we do not want an e)cess of 2inc and we want most of the hydrochloric acid to be consumed. 8et the test tube stand o+er night until all the 2inc reacts. $. 6ass a clean3 dry e+aporating dish and watch glass to the nearest '.'1g and record their mass in the data table. :our instructor will ha+e already dried the dish and watch in an o+en before the lab. %. C#7-.;88: pour the 2inc chloride solution into the e+aporating dish. 7inse the tube twice with 102 m8 of distilled water to transfer the rest of the 2inc chloride solution to the dish. # couple of small rinsings are better than one large rinsing. (. Co+er the dish with the watch glass and carefully heat the dish with a moderate flame to e+aporate all the water. 1ry not to splatter the solution3 which will result in a loss of the compound. 1he first solid to appear will be the 2inc chloride dihydrate. 1o remo+e the water from the hydrate3 heat the solid until it melts. 9nce it is completely molten3 stop heating and let the dish cool to room temperature in a desiccator. 7ecord the mass of the dish and compound. <epending on how rapidly you did the initial heating3 you may see only the molten compound and ne+er see the hydrate. <o not o+erheat the molten compound or it will +apori2e. . 1o ensure that the water has completely e+aporated3 reheat the dish and compound for a couple of minutes. Cool the dish to room temperature in a desiccator and remass. 5f the mass is not within '.1g of the pre+ious mass3 repeat the procedure until this is achie+ed. =. Complete the calculations of the empirical formula.

-mp. .ormula /inc Chloride web '10'2

Determination of the Empirical Formula for Zinc Chloride Name:__________________________________________________ Course:_____ 8ab Partner:______________________________________________ Period:____ Data Table 6ass of weighing dish and 2inc metal 6ass of empty weighing dish 6ass of 2inc metal 6ass of the empty e+aporating dish and watch glass 6ass of the e+aporating dish3 watch glass3 and 2inc chloride after the first heating 6ass of the e+aporating dish3 watch glass3 and 2inc chloride after the second heating 6ass of 2inc chloride formed 6ass of chlorine in the compound 6oles of 2inc in the compound 6oles of chlorine in the compound 6ole ratio of chlorine to 2inc in the compound -mpirical formula for 2inc chloride Show your calculation for the above! g g g g g g g g mol mol

-mp. .ormula /inc Chloride web '10'2

"n wer the Followin# $ue tion 1. .or each of the following3 state the effect >increase3 decrease3 no change? on the calculated mass of chlorine and the mole ratio of chlorine to 2inc. -)plain the effect in terms of the mass of the 2inc chloride and the mass of chlorine. #ssume that your original mass of 2inc is correct. a. #ll the reaction mi)ture was not transferred to the e+aporating dish.

b. #ll the water was not e+aporated during the heating process.

c. Some of the reaction mi)ture splatters out of the e+aporating dish during the heating process.

d. Some of the 2inc chloride is lost by +apori2ing the solid due to o+erheating the solid.

e. Soot for the burner is deposited on the e+aporating dish during heating to e+aporate the water.

f. &ater is adsorbed by the 2inc chloride during the cooling process but before the compound is massed.

Conclu ion % &hat was your empirical formula" &hat possible sources of error might ha+e affected your results and how might they ha+e affected it"

-mp. .ormula /inc Chloride web '10'2