Determination of R

October 27, 2011

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this lab was to determine the numerical value of the gas law constant R.

PROCEDURE

1. Added small amounts of MnO2 and KClO3 to a test tube.

2. Added 500 mL of water to an Erlenmeyer flask and attached a rubber stopped to the top.
Two glass tubes went through the stopper so that both tubes had one end in the flask.
Tube A reached the water in the flask and the other end of the tube was in a separate
beaker. Tube A contained a pinch clamp. Tube B did not reach the water in the flask, and
was also attached to the test tube containing MnO2 and KClO3.
3. Equalized pressure in the flask by opening the clamp, to let the water flow into the beaker,
and then pinching the clamp when the two water levels were equal. Discarded water in
beaker.
4. Heated the MnO2 and KClO3 so that gas would produce, and water would flow into the
beaker.
5. Equalized the water levels once again.
6. Weighed the amount of water in the beaker and took its temperature.

DATA:

Data Table #1
Room Pressure 0.9629 atm
Water Temperature 21C
Density of Water at 21C 0.997992 g/mL
Test Tube Before Heated 19.0066 g
Test Tube After Heated 18.8356 g
Water in Cup 154.010 g
Plastic Cup 6.859 g
Water Only 147.151 g

Data Table #2 (From Calculations)

Volume of O2 0.147447 L
Moles of O2 0.00534 mol
Pressure of O2 0.938 atm
 A. Wick
Chemistry
Period 1

RESULTS:

Volume of the Water Displacement:

D = M/V 0.997992 = 147.151 g
V
V = 147.447 mL or 0.147447 L

Reaction for Decomposition of KClO3 with catalyst MnO2:

2KClO3(s) ----(MnO2(s))---> 2KCl (s) + 3O2(g)

Experimental Mass of Oxygen produced for test tube valves:

19.0066 g - 18.8356 g = .171 g O2

0.171 g O2 1 mol O2
32.00 g

= 0.00534 mol O2

Pressure of Dry Oxygen Gas:

PTotal = PO2 + PH2O
0.9629 atm = PO2 + 0.0245 atm
PO2 = 0.938 atm

Calculating R with Ideal Gas Law:

PV = nRT
(0.938 atm) (0.147447 L) = (0.00534 mol) (294 K) R
R = 0.0881 L atm/mol K

Calculation R with van der Waals Equation:

(P + n2a ) (v-nb) = nRT
v2
{0.938 atm + (0.00534 mol)2 (1.360 L2 atm/mol2) } {(0.147447 L) - (0.00534 mol)(0.03183L/mol)}
R= (0.147447 L)2

(0.00534 mol) (294 K)

R = (0.93978 atm) (0.14728) 0.13841 L atm

(1.56996 mol K) 1.56996 mol K

Calculating the Percent Error:

% Error = Actual - Theoretical 100
Theoretical
% Error Ideal Gas Law = (0.0821 L atm/mol K) - (0.0881 L atm/mol K) 100
(0.0881 L atm/mol K)

2
 A. Wick
Chemistry
Period 1

% Error Van der Waals = (0.0821 L atm/mol K) - (0.0882 L atm/mol K) 100

(0.0882 L atm/mol K)

QUESTIONS:

1. The solubility of O2 gas in water affect the value of R in that some of the gas is dissolved.
This decreases the amount of gas in the system, which leads to a decrease in the amount of
water that leaves the system.
2. The properties that are being accounted for using a and b in the van der Waals equation
are pressure in atm, mass in moles and volume in liters.
3. I expect HBr to deviate more because it is a heavy and large molecule. Gas molecules are
usually smaller.

CONCLUSION:

The goal of this lab was to find the value of the gas law constant R which through my
experiment, which I found to R to be between 0.0881 L atm/mol K and 0.0882 L atm/mol K.
Though there a several errors in the lab that could have affect my calculation of R. First, when
equalizing the pressure in the flask with the room pressure, it was very difficult to see exactly when
the water levels were equal. This would have affect the pressure in the end, causing R to be slightly
higher or lower than what is was supposed to be. If the pressure was measure slightly lower, R
would also be slightly lower and vise versa. Also when weighing the ending water, the cover of the
balance was unable to be used, so the mass of the water is also slightly off, causing R to be higher
than normal.