Illinois Institute of Technology Principles of Chemistry Laboratory November 22, 2013 Analysis of an Aluminum-Zinc Alloy

Jimmy Laureano CWID: A20303170

Purpose: To calculate the amount of Zinc and Aluminum in an alloy after it has reacted with an acid by using the moles of Hydrogen gas produced obtained by using the ideal gas law. Procedure: First 2 gelatin capsules were weighed, one for a different trial. Then some of the alloy sample was placed in the capsule and weighed again, the weight should be between .1000g and .2000g. Then, the suction flask was filled about full of water. The pinch clamp was opened and suction was applied to the tubing attached to the side arm. Water was put into the flask from the beaker until the water level was just below the side arm. Next, to apply suction, an aspirator was used with the water running. The pinch clamp was closed to prevent siphoning, making sure the tube from the beaker to the flask was full of water. The tubing from the beaker was removed, making sure water didnt leak. The beaker was emptied and the mass was recorded. The tubing was placed back in the beaker. Then 10 ml of 6 M HCl measured from a graduated cylinder was poured into the test tube. Then the capsule with the alloy inside was dropped in the test tube. The stopper was inserted into the test tube and the pinch clamp was opened. Later the capsule dissolved in a couple of minutes and water was draining into the beaker which corresponds to the volume of Hydrogen gas. After the reaction was a clear color, the tubing was closed with the pinch clamp and the mass of the beaker and water was taken. Lastly the temperature of the the water and the barometric pressure were recorded to be later used in calculating moles of the Hydrogen gas. Specialized Chemical Technique: Reacting Hydrochloric acid to produce Hydrogen gas to displace an equal volume of water was done in the experiment. That volume was used with the ideal gas law (finding pressure using partial pressure and recording temperature) to find the moles of Hydrogen gas. Final Result: Having all the information necessary for the PV=nRT equation, the moles for Hydrogen gas was solved. For trial 1 it was .0047 mol and .00615 for trial 2. Using the equation (#1 in eqn. sheet) that was given, there are 2 unknowns. But it is also known that those 2 unknowns are masses of the the total alloy and that mass is known. So the 2 unknowns were solved because there were at least 2 equations with those unknowns as shown in the equation sheet. The mass of Al was approximately .069g for trial 1 and .0987g for trial 2. For Zn it was .042g and .043g respectively. The percentages were then calculated (using equation 3 in eqn. sheet) and averaged. The final average was approximately 65% Aluminum and 35% Zinc. Conclusion: The alloy was approximately made up of 65% Aluminum and 35% Zinc. The method of calculation was not taken the way it was instructed, but by having two separate equations with two unknowns and solving for them. The method used was by graphing each equation using y=mx+b form in a calculator and finding the point of intersection. The results from trial 1 and trial 2 were close, only about 7% in difference of each individual trial. Some potential errors or factors that might have skewed the data are that the water drained into the beaker might not have been 100% of the Hydrogen gas and that some possible external elements may have been added when handling the capsule or alloy. Attachments: Data Table Equation Sheet Post Lab Questions Equations used: 1. nH2= (.0556 moles H2/g Al * X g Al) + (.0153 moles H2/g Zn * Y g Zn)

Here, nH2 was solved (as shown in in data sheet), X and Y are unknown masses of Al and Zn in grams, respectively. 2. X+Y = mass of alloy The mass of alloy was measured. By solving for Y for equation 1 and 2 and using the Y=mX+b form, one can graph the equations to solve for X and Y which are the masses of the metal.

3. Percentage of Al/Zn in sample: (mass Al or Zn total mass of alloy) * 100% = % of metal