XV.

GIMNAZIJA International Baccalaureate Department

Group 4 Chemistry SL

Lab no.7: Colorimetry

Student: Teacher:

Caterina Rende Dominis Zrinka Toplian

Data Collection and Processing (DCP)

Aim: Aspect 1: Recording raw data Experiment reaction:
3 ( aq )

Fe3 ( aq) 6SCN ( aq) Fe(SCN )6

Table 1 Table showing the volume and distribution of each solution in each flask Samples V(FeCl3)/mL 0.1 mL 1 1.0 2 2.0 3 3.0 4 4.0 5 5.0 6 6.0 7 7.0 8 8.0 9 9.0
V(HCl)/mL V(KSCN)/mL

0.1 mL 9.0 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0

0.1 mL 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0

Total V/mL 0.1 mL 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0

Table 2 Table showing the absorbency obtained by the colorimeter for each different sample (in three different trials) and the average absorbency Samples 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1st trial 2nd trial 3rd trial Average Absorbency

0.001 A 0.06 0.09 0.14 0.22 0.07 0.09 0.09 0.46 0.24

0.001 A 0.06 0.10 0.14 0.23 0.07 0.09 0.09 0.46 0.23

0.001 A 0.06 0.10 0.14 0.23 0.07 0.09 0.09 0.46 0.23

0.001 A 0.06 0.10 0.14 0.23 0.07 0.09 0.09 0.46 0.23

. Relevant data (Aspect 3: Presenting Raw Data

Aspect 2: Processing raw data

0.5 0.45 0.4 0.35

Absorbency

0.3 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 0 0.0001 0.0002 0.0003 0.0004 0.0005 0.0006 0.0007 C (Fe3+) / mol/mL

Figure 1 Absorbency / Concentration graph For the graph I plotted the best fitting straight line, even though there are noticeable anomalies. However, a pattern can still be observed and that is that very often as the absorbency increases do does the concentration.

Figure 2 Calculation of the concentration of Fe3+ in each test tube and calculation of its according error

Conclusion and Evaluation (CE)

Conclusion The results of this experiment have had many anomalies, therefore they were very unclear, but despite that a conclusion was drawn. The absorbencies measured and the calculated concentrations with the respective errors are as follows: Table 3 Concentration of Fe3+ in each sample Average of Abs/ 0.001 0.006 0.010 0.014 0.023 0.007 0.009 0.009 0.046 0.023 Concentration of Fe3 /M
6.67 106 12 .0% 1.34 105 7.0%

2.00 105 5.3%

2.67 105 4.5% 3.34 105 4.0% 4.00 105 3.6% 4.67 105 3.4% 5.34 105 3.2%

6.00 105 3.1%

A trend can be noticed, although with difficulty, and that is that in most cases as the absorbency is higher so is the concentration, which could hint to a possible proportionality.
Formula (aka Procedure) for calculating the error:
0.1mL 0.3mL error ( )( ) 0.12 12.0% 1.0mL 15.0mL

Evaluation
The experiment was all in all satisfactory, although the obtained results were at times so far off it caused confusion. Here are some limitations that could have affected the final results: The cuvettes which we used were slightly scratched, therefore preventing the light from passing completely, affecting the measurements of the colorimeter. While holding the cuvettes our fingerprints might have left a mark causing the same problem as in the limitation stated above (incomplete passage of light). When putting the solutions in the cuvettes it often happened that they came out over the top. Even though we used paper towels to dry the solution from the cuvettes a little bit most probably stayed, again causing the light to be partially refracted or reflected, which could clarify the rapid rise and fall in our results.

These complications could be amended by: Having cuvettes without (or with really minor) scratches to insure the clarity of the light passing through the colorimeter Using gloves when touching cuvettes to prevent leaving any fingerprints Being more attentive when pouring the solution into the cuvettes, in order not to spill the solution on the sides of the cuvette Repeating the trials for each sample more often with different cuvettes for each trial to guarantee the precision of the results.