Experiment 2 COUPLED REACTIONS

J.R.A. IBALE
1INSTITUTE

OF CHEMISTRY, COLLEGE OF SCIENCE 2UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, DILIMAN QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES DATE PERFORMED: November 21, 2012
INSTRUCTORS NAME: Mr. Maro Pea

ABSTRACT This experiment was executed by effectively combining two reactions in order to induce spontaneity for one which does not normally proceed forwardcoupled reactions. The experiment was done in order to observe coupled reactions and calculate the Gibbs free energy of the reaction. The students used the combustion of magnesium in carbon dioxide in the form of dry ice for the reaction. The magnesium ribbons were filed beforehand and were weighed. The magnesium ribbons were ignited on top of a slab of dry ice and were covered upon combustion. The actual yield of the solid products that the researchers got was 1.68 g of products which had was 52.17% from the theoretical value of 3.22 g products. The Gibbs free energy had 47.83% error from the theoretical G = -743.61 kJ. The calculated Gibbs free energy from the experimental value and was known to be exothermic over-all with G = -750 kJ. From observation, the experiment had to be provided with much heat before the reaction proceeded. Hence, this reaction is spontaneous at high temperatures, wherein in this experiment it was assumed that the temperature was at about 900 K.

METHODOLOGY Before the experiment was begun, the materials, equipment and safety gears were prepared first. The safety gears included a face mask to avoid inhalation of harmful gases, goggles, laboratory gown, and cryogenic gloves for the handling of the dry ice. For the equipment and materials, the dry ice was shaped into the desired set-up and the magnesium ribbons were weighed. This experiment was primarily executed with the help of the dry ice set-up. The setup was made up of two slabs of dry ice wherein one of the slabs was modified to have a middle hole to serve as the container of the reaction to be done from which four canals were also gouged towards the edges to allow excess gases that form to escape through, while the other was placed above the previous one to serve as a cover or

sealant of the over-all reaction. In this experiment the chemical reaction to be observed was the reaction between Mg(s) and CO2(s) with the aid of the aforementioned set-up. Before the reaction was initiated, the work place was first covered with moistened paper sheets to ensure safety in case some of the magnesium ribbons escape the set-up while the reaction was on-going. When the experiment was begun, the Mg(s), in the form of metal ribbons, was placed in the gouged hole on the slab of dry ice (CO2(s)) and was ignited using a butane burner. Once the Mg(s) began to burn, the reaction was covered with the other slab of dry ice and was allowed to proceed. After the reaction has died down with the hint of the disappearance of the light which the reaction produced, the set-up was opened. Finally, the products of the reaction was recovered and observed. They were classified as MgO(s) and C(S). The products

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were then weighed. From the data acquired, calculations proceeded afterwards and further observations from the data were done. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION In this experiment, the reaction 2Mg(s) + CO2(g) 2MgO(s) + C(s) was used to exhibit the validity of the coupling of reactions in order to come up with the proceeding of a reaction, which is plainly inducing spontaneity to a nonspontaneous reaction by combining it to another reaction which will provide ample energy that the non-spontaneous reaction would need to absorb in order to proceed. The experiment had a slow start. This is because the Mg ribbons took some time before ignition. This is because of the type of environment where the magnesium was to be ignited as well as the high heat capacity of magnesium. Due to latter, magnesium needs to be provided with much heat before it can ignite or light up, but due to the surroundings or basically the cold atmosphere that the dry ice was inducing (which also absorbs some of the heat being provided) the magnesium could not immediately reach the point which is favorable to ignition and that is the accumulation of enough heat. Moreover, since the CO2 is a heavier gas than oxygen, it would tend to apprehend the availability of oxygen for the combustion as well which further delays the combustion reaction. After the reaction proceeded, a product with total mass of 1.68 g was obtained. The products formed from the reaction were strips of black and white substances. The strips had white tips and the middle parts were black. The white ones were the MgO while the black were the carbon products. From observation, it can be seen that the white part was relatively greater in ratio to the black part, which also reflects the balanced equation which shows that MgO is, theoretically, produced more than the carbon product.

Initially, the mass of the Mg used was 1.69 grams. From this data, it was calculated that the theoretical yield was supposed to be 3.22 grams (approximately). This theoretical data is already the total mass of all of the solid products. Experimental-wise, the products obtained had a mass of 1.68 grams. The total yield was only 52.17% from the theoretical yield. The experiment has a 47.83% error. Approximating from the Ellingham diagram, the Gibbs free energy was estimated to be -750 kJ at 900 K. Since G<0, the reaction is spontaneous at 900 K. In the procedure, since Mg can react with O2 to form MgO, the Mg ribbon must be filed before being used. This is to ensure that the Mg ribbon being used does not include unnecessary MgO which would contribute to procedural errors. Otherwise, Mg weighed isnt completely and solely that of the Mg alone. For further accounting of possible discrepancies, if the Mg ribbon may not have been filed well, there is a possibility that the actual weight of the Mg was lesser and the mass of the products that would have formed from the supposed reaction would be actually lesser than what is obtained. Another would be that due to the nature of the reaction (violently occurring), there is a possibility that the Mg or any of the other products may shoot out of the chamber and would be unaccounted, meaning the experimental yield would be lesser than the actual yield. Another discrepancy in the process would also be that during extraction of products was not efficient such as not having to obtain all or the converse, meaning the yield would be lesser or greater, respectively, than the true yield of the reaction. Although the reaction in focus was primaruily only between the Mg and CO2, there are also side reactions. Given that the system was uncovered from open atmosphere, oxygen can also be present. The introduction of oxygen can cause the Mg to form MgO through reaction with O2.

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The balanced chemical reaction for this side reaction would be, 2Mg(s) + O2(g) 2MgO(s). The production of MgO from this side reaction can add additional MgO mass to the product meaning the obtained mass in the reaction is not purely from the reaction in consideration. REFERENCES [1]Academic Group Institute of Chemistry (June, 2011). General Chemistry II Laboratory Manual. Institute of Chemistry, University of the PhilippinesDiliman.
[2]Petrucci,

2. Why is it important to immediately cover the Mg ribbon with the other slab of dry ice once it starts burning? If it is not immediately covered with the slab of dry ice, the magnesium would instead react with the atmospheric O2 rather than with CO2 creating more MgO(s) or the white products formed. 3. Using theoretical G values for the reactants and products in the system, calculate the Grxn. Explain experimental observations based on the calculated Grxn. Grxn = - Grxn =(2(-569.0kJ/mol)+0.0kJ/mol) (2(0.0 kJ/mol) + (-394.39 kJ/mol)) = -743.61 kJ/mol Since, the Grxn of the reaction is negative it proceeds forward spontaneously. 4. Give two other reactions that can be coupled with Mg. show pertinent equations and Grxn. 2Mg(s) + O2(g) 2MgO(s) CO2(g) O2(g) + C(s) G = -1150 kJ G = 400 kJ

Ralph, Geoffrey Herring, Jeffry Madura, Carey Bissonnette (2011). General Chemistry Principles and Modern Applications. 10th edition. Pearson Education, Canada, 2011.
[3]Silberberg,

Martin (2007). Principles of General Chemistry. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. APPENDIX Appendix 1 ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 1. Why does it take a long time to light the Mg ribbons? This is because of the type of environment where the magnesium was to be ignited as well as the high heat capacity of magnesium. Due to latter, magnesium needs to be provided with much heat before it can ignite or light up, but due to the surroundings or basically the cold atmosphere that the dry ice was inducing (which also absorbs some of the heat being provided) the magnesium could not immediately reach the point which is favorable to ignition and that is the accumulation of enough heat. Moreover, since the CO2 is a heavier gas than oxygen, it would tend to apprehend the availability of oxygen for the combustion as well which further delays the combustion reaction.

5. Some of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction in the body can be interpreted as a coupled reaction. An example of which is the hexokinase-catalyzed reaction in glycolysis wherein ATP is spent in order to convert glucose (sugar) molecules to glucose-6-P, a form that can readily enter the cell: ATP + H2O ADP + Pi G = -31 kJ/mol

Pi + glucose glucose-6-P + H2O G = +14 kJ/mol Where ATP is adenosine triphosphate, ADP is adenosine diphosphate and Pi is inorganic phosphate. From the two equations given, derive the net reaction happening in the cell and label which reactions are endergonic and exergonic. Calculate G of the net reaction. The exergonic reaction is:

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ATP + H2O ADP + Pi The endergonic reaction is: Pi + glucose glucose-6-P + H2O Appendix 2 CALCULATIONS Calculation for %error and %yield %error = = = %yield = = Calculation for Grxn =

G<0 G>0.

The net reaction for the process is: ATP + glucose ADP + glucose-6-P with a free energy of G=-17 kJ/mol.

x 100% x 100% 47.83% x 100% x 100% 52.17%

Grxn = - = (2(-569.0 kJ/mol) + 0.0 kJ/mol) (2(0.0 kJ/mol) + (-394.39 kJ/mol)) = -743.61 kJ/mol Calculation for the Total Mass of Solid Products (Theoretical)
( )( )( )

Calculation of G (at T = 1000 K) 2Mg(s) + O2(g) 2MgO(s) CO2(g) O2(g) + C(s) 2Mg(s) + CO2(g) 2MgO(s) + C(s) G = -1150 kJ G = 400 kJ G = -750 kJ

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