Kim​ ​1

Riah​ ​Kim

Ms.​ ​Rebancos

IB​ ​DP​ ​Chemistry​ ​11

7​ ​November​ ​2017

LAB:​ ​QUANTITATIVE​ ​DECOMPOSITION​ ​OF​ ​POTASSIUM​ ​CHLORATE

Aim
The​ ​aim​ ​of​ ​this​ ​lab​ ​is​​ ​to​ ​determine​ ​how​ ​much​ ​oxygen​ ​is​ ​in​ ​any​ ​sample​ ​of​ ​potassium​ ​chlorate​ ​and
compare​ ​accepted​ ​value​ ​through​ ​calculating​ ​the​ ​percentage​ ​error.

Research​ ​Question
What is the effect of mass of potassium chlorate on the mass of oxygen released after the
decomposition measured by the electronic balance in grams (± 0.01g) when each compound was
fully​ ​decomposed​ ​each​ ​trial​ ​and​ ​the​ ​other​ ​materials​ ​are​ ​kept​ ​constant?

Hypothesis
If the mass of potassium chlorate increases, then the mass of oxygen that’s released would
increase​ ​as​ ​well​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Law​ ​of​ ​Constant​ ​Composition.

Background
A decomposition reaction is when a single compound breaks down into two or more elements or
new compounds. These reactions often involve an energy source such as heat, light, or electricity
that​ ​breaks​ ​apart​ ​the​ ​bonds​ ​of​ ​compounds.

In the case of this experiment, oxygen is produced by thermal decomposition of potassium

chlorate​ ​(KClO​3​).​ ​The​ ​decomposition​ ​formula​ ​of​ ​potassium​ ​chlorate​ ​can​ ​be​ ​written​ ​as:

​ ​2KClO​3​​ ​→​ ​2KCl​ ​+​ ​3O​2

Potassium chlorate is heated, and then it decomposes into potassium chloride and oxygen. After
the decomposition, the oxygen is released, resulting in the decrease in the mass of the compound.
Due to the Law of Constant Composition, the ratio between the mass of potassium chlorate and
the mass of oxygen lost after the decomposition will be the same no matter what the mass of the
compound is, meaning if mass of one of the compounds increases, the others would increase as
well.
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Variables
Variable​ ​Type Variable Units​ ​&​ ​Uncertainties How​ ​are​ ​they
manipulated?

Independent Mass​ ​of​ ​potassium Grams​ ​( ± 0.01g ) I​ ​could​ ​vary​ ​the​ ​mass
chlorate of​ ​potassium​ ​chlorate
by​ ​1​ ​gram.

Dependent Mass​ ​of​ ​oxygen Grams​ ​( ± 0.01g ) Not​ ​manipulated​ ​-

released depends​ ​on​ ​the
reaction

Controls Materials​ ​used Variety​ ​of​ ​units Same​ ​materials​ ​will

be​ ​used​ ​during​ ​the
entire​ ​experiment.

Time​ ​spent​ ​to​ ​heat Minutes For​ ​every​ ​trial,

potassium​ ​chlorate potassium​ ​chlorate
will​ ​be​ ​heated​ ​for

Materials
Item Quantity​ ​used Size Unit

Bunsen​ ​burner 1 No​ ​size No​ ​unit

Match 1 No​ ​size No​ ​unit

Potassium​ ​chlorate 1.0​ ​grams 1.0​ ​grams Grams​ ​( ± 0.01g )

Crucible​ ​with​ ​its​ ​lid 1 No​ ​size No​ ​unit

Safety​ ​goggles 1 No​ ​size No​ ​unit

Crucible​ ​tong 1 No​ ​size No​ ​unit

Electronic​ ​balance 1 No​ ​size No​ ​unit

Clay​ ​triangle 1 No​ ​size No​ ​unit

Ring​ ​clamp 1 No​ ​size No​ ​unit

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Method
1. Both crucible and the lid were cleaned by rinsing with distilled water then drying
completely​ ​with​ ​a​ ​paper​ ​towel.
2. Crucible​ ​and​ ​the​ ​lid​ ​were​ ​weighed​ ​on​ ​an​ ​electronic​ ​balance​ ​and​ ​the​ ​mass​ ​was​ ​recorded.
3. Approximately 1 gram of potassium chlorate was added to the crucible, and then the
mass​ ​of​ ​the​ ​crucible,​ ​lid,​ ​and​ ​potassium​ ​chlorate​ ​sample​ ​were​ ​weighed​ ​and​ ​recorded.
4. The clay triangle was placed on the ring, and hen crucible containing the sample was
placed​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​triangle.​ ​The​ ​crucible​ ​was​ ​covered​ ​with​ ​the​ ​lid.
5. The crucible and sample were heated for a total of 12 minutes using a Bunsen burner.
Crucible​ ​was​ ​covered,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​top​ ​of​ ​the​ ​flame​ ​was​ ​touching​ ​the​ ​bottom​ ​of​ ​the​ ​crucible,
a. For the first 6 minutes, the sample was gently heated with a low-moderate
temperature.
b. For​ ​the​ ​last​ ​6​ ​minutes,​ ​the​ ​sample​ ​was​ ​strongly​ ​heated​ ​with​ ​a​ ​high​ ​temperature.
6. The crucible was cooled to room temperature, and then the mass of the crucible, lid, plus
the residue that remains were weighed and recorded. The weight of the sample was
expected​ ​to​ ​decrease​ ​by​ ​at​ ​least​ ​30%​ ​of​ ​its​ ​original​ ​mass.(~​ ​0.3g)
7. The sample was heated for the second time for an additional 6 minutes with a high
temperature flame. Then it was cooled to room temperature, and then mass of the cooled
crucible, lid and sample were weighed and recorded again. If the mass was within 0.050
gram​ ​of​ ​the​ ​mass​ ​measurement​ ​after​ ​the​ ​first​ ​heating,​ ​no​ ​further​ ​heating​ ​was​ ​necessary.
8. Residue mass after the final heating was used for the calculate the experimental mass
percent​ ​of​ ​oxygen​ ​in​ ​potassium​ ​chlorate.

Safety​ ​Considerations
- One area of the procedure that presented the potential for harm to ourselves was the use
of fire and bunsen burner. In order to minimise the risk, I lit up the match first and then
turned​ ​on​ ​the​ ​gas.
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- In order to not get burns, I used tong to place the crucible on the clay triangle, put it down
on the ground to cool, to take out the lid, and to move it to the electronic balance to
measure​ ​the​ ​mass.

Table​ ​1:​ ​Raw​ ​Data​ ​for​ ​decomposition​ ​of​ ​KClO​3

Type Mass​ ​(g) Uncertainty​ ​(g)

Crucible​ ​+​ ​Lid 35.33 ± 2.83 × 10−4

Crucible​ ​+​ ​Lid​ ​+ 36.33 ± 2.75 × 10−4

KClO​3

Crucible​ ​+​ ​Lid​ ​+ 35.98 ± 2.77 × 10−4

KClO​3​​ ​after​ ​12
minutes

Crucible​ ​+​ ​Lid​ ​+ 35.95 ± 2.78 × 10−4

KClO​3​​ ​after​ ​18
minutes

Calculation​ ​for​ ​the​ ​mass​ ​lost:

36.33​ ​-​ ​35.95​ ​=​ ​0.38,​ ​due​ ​to​ ​Law​ ​of​ ​Mass​ ​Conservation

Table​ ​2:​ ​Calculated​ ​Data​ ​for​ ​decomposition​ ​of​ ​KClO​3

Element Mass​ ​/​ ​grams

​ ​( ± 0.01g )

KClO​3 1

KCl 0.62

O​2 0.38

Qualitative​ ​Data
- It​ ​was​ ​bubbling​ ​as​ ​it​ ​was​ ​reacting.
- It​ ​became​ ​really​ ​solid​ ​and​ ​hard​ ​after​ ​the​ ​reaction.
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Calculations
1. Experimental value: the percentage of oxygen in potassium chlorate. (mass of oxygen ÷
mass​ ​potassium​ ​chlorate.)
- 0.38 ÷ 1.00 = 0.38 = 38%

2. Accepted value: the percentage of oxygen, using the ​molar masses ​of the elements the
same​ ​information​ ​as​ ​above.​ ​(mass​ ​of​ ​oxygen​ ​ ÷ ​ ​mass​ ​potassium​ ​chlorate.​ ​)
- 48 ÷ 122.5495 = 0.39 = 39%
- The​ ​reason​ ​why​ ​it’s​ ​48​ ​is​ ​because​ ​KClO​3​.​ ​(16*3)

3. Percentage​ ​error​ ​for​ ​your​ ​data.

% error = || accepted value−experimental
accepted value
value
× 100%||
- || 0.39−0.38
0.39
× 100%|| = 2.56%

4. Atom​ ​economy​ ​for​ ​this​ ​reaction:

2KClO​3​​ ​→​ ​2KCl​ ​+​ ​3O​2
- K:​ ​2​ ​*​ ​39.0983​ ​=​ ​78.1966
- Cl:​ ​2​ ​*​ ​35.453​ ​=​ ​70.906
- O:​ ​6​ ​*​ ​15.9994​ ​=​ ​95.9964
→​ ​2KCl​ ​+​ ​3O​2​​ ​=​ ​245.099
→​ ​2KCl​ ​=​ ​149.1026
2KCl
→ 2KCl+3O × 100 = 60.83%
2

Conclusion:
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My research question was what the effect of mass of potassium chlorate(KClO​3​) on the mass of
oxygen released after the decomposition process measured by the electronic balance in grams
(± 0.01g) is when the time the sample was heated, heating temperature(same bunsen burner,
same heating power for the same amount of time) and the other materials used such as the
crucible are kept constant. My hypothesis was that if the mass of potassium chlorate increases,
then the mass of oxygen released would increase as well. However, for my experiment, I only
did one trial using 1.00 gram of potassium chlorate; s​o my hypothesis is not supported with the
data I currently have. But ​theoretically​, my hypothesis to the research question would be
supported due to the ​law of constant composition​. The law of constant composition states that a
compound always contain the same elements in the same proportion of mass​(“Understand the
Law of Constant Composition in Chemistry”)​. ​The ratio between the mass of potassium chlorate
and the mass of oxygen lost after the decomposition will be the same no matter what the mass of
the compound is, meaning if mass of one of the compounds increases, the others would increase
as​ ​well.

According to the data I gathered, potassium chlorate(potassium chloride after the decomposition)
weighed less after the reaction. Before the reaction, KClO​3 itself without the crucible weighed
1.00 g, and after the decomposition, KCl weighed 0.62 g. This means that 0.38 g of oxygen were
released after the decomposition. So the conclusion drawn from this experiment with one trial
would be that the oxygen did decrease due to the heating process. This loss of mass can be
explained by the decomposition reaction; the potassium chlorate(KClO​3​) goes through thermal
decomposition reaction to form potassium chloride, KClO and oxygen gas, O​2​. The oxygen here
is​ ​transformed​ ​into​ ​gas​ ​and​ ​then​ ​released,​ ​which​ ​resulted​ ​in​ ​the​ ​loss​ ​of​ ​mass.

Evaluation:
The percentage of oxygen in potassium chlorate in the experimental value was 38%, while the
accepted value that I calculated using the molar masses was 39%. So when I calculated the
percentage error of my experimental value, I got 2.56%. Percentage error of 2.56% would be
considered a minor error, since usually the maximum acceptable percentage error is 10%. By
looking at this, I would conclude that my data were very accurate. However, one possible reason
why the percentage error is 2.56% and not 0% might be because the decomposition reaction
might​ ​not​ ​have​ ​been​ ​done​ ​completely​ ​and​ ​some​ ​oxygen​ ​might​ ​have​ ​remained.

One strength of the lab was precision of measurement; exactly 1 gram of potassium chlorate was
measured; the result was easier to observe and calculate this way. And when the mass of
potassium chloride was measured twice after heating for 12 minutes and additional 6 minutes,
the difference between the two masses was less than 0.05g, which also shows that the data were
precise. Another strength would be high accuracy shown through the low percentage error. One
limitation is that since I’ve done only one trial heating 1 gram of potassium chlorate, I couldn’t
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really find out if the difference in the mass of potassium chlorate heated makes any difference in
the mass of oxygen that’s released. Another limitation would be that the strength of fire was not
consistent. And my standard of “low-medium” temperature of fire might have been different
with that of the procedure, and the same for “high” temperature. When I was turning the valve, it
was difficult to adjust it to a proper extent; the fire was either too weak or too strong. Due to this,
the​ ​water​ ​of​ ​crystallisation​ ​might​ ​not​ ​have​ ​been​ ​driven​ ​off​ ​steadily.

As this experiment was not perfect, there are some improvements and extensions that could be
made and derived from this. One improvement would be conducting more trials so that the
hypothesis can actually be tested and be more probable to be supported not only theoretically but
also experimentally. I could conduct, for instance, 5 trials in total, varying the mass of potassium
chlorate by 0.5 grams, and see how the mass of oxygen released varies. One possible extension
that can be derived from this lab would be varying the mass of manganese dioxide instead of
varying the mass of potassium chlorate. The result could show whether or not if the amount of
potassium​ ​chlorate​ ​affects​ ​the​ ​reaction​ ​and​ ​the​ ​mass​ ​of​ ​oxygen​ ​released.
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Works​ ​Cited

“Green​ ​Chemistry.”​ ​BBC,​ ​BBC,

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/triple_ocr_21c/further_chemistry/green_che

mistry/revision/5/​.

“Understand​ ​the​ ​Law​ ​of​ ​Constant​ ​Composition​ ​in​ ​Chemistry.”​ ​ThoughtCo​.​ ​N.p.,​ ​n.d.​ ​Web.​ ​7

Nov.​ ​2017.​​ ​https://www.thoughtco.com/law-of-constant-composition-chemistry-605850​.

V.,​ ​Stephan.​ ​“For​ ​Decomposition:​ ​Why​ ​Does​ ​2KClO3​ ​Become​ ​->​ ​2KCl+3O2?”​ ​Socratic,

Socratic,​ ​3​ ​Mar.​ ​2015,

https://socratic.org/questions/for-decomposition-why-does-2kclo3-2kcl-3o2​.