Laboratory Report - General Chemistry II

Equilibrium Constant
Jose Pintor
July 02, 2012

Abstract
In this experiment, the whole was carried out in order to find the
absorbency of a molar concentration.
To find out the equilibrium constant using e expressed equation.
[ ]
=
[+ ][ ]

The constant was determined to be 247.38 in regards to the data

obtained.
The actual constant is 271.49.
The data obtained was graphed and analyzed in order to obtain
the equilibrium constant.

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1. Purpose

The purpose of the experiment is to determine the equilibrium constant using

a spectrophotometer, evaluating data using graphing techniques and to
determine the equilibrium constant for a soluble equilibrium.

2. Introduction

In the experiment being conducted, various techniques will have to be used.

Some of these techniques will include the precise measurement using a
graduated cylinder, knowing how to calibrate the spectrophotometer. Before
the Experiment is conducted, a good understanding of the tools and
electronic devices shold be understood with clarity. The technologies being
used is the spectrophotometer. This device measures the transmitted light
with a photosensitive detector at specific wavelengths. As you may know, the
light that is visible to us is referred to as the visible light spectrum. Its
frequencies range from 400nm-700nm. The way this device works is by
measuring the degree of radiation being absorbed which is also called the
intensity of the transmitted radiation. There are quite a few factors that
affect the amount of electromagnetic radiation that the sample absorbs. One
of the factors deals with the concentration of the sample being used. As the
concentration increases, the amount of light that the spectrophotometer
measures will change and vice versa. Another factor which affects the
amount of electromagnetic radiation (EM) is the thickness of the device in
which you put the sample in. The thicker it is the larger the distance the EM
must travel. This may affect the final reading. The final factor is one that

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involves the solution again and how it absorbs the light being transmitted.
The amount of light absorbed is directly proportional to the concentration to
the substance that is absorbing. A major part of this experiment is measuring
equilibrium constant. When we think of equilibrium we think of a system
that is balanced. In this case the reaction has ended between the substances
that will be used in this experiment which are + and . When this

reaction comes to a halt, the system is said to be in a state of equilibrium. The

+

equation is as follows:+ + . From here we can

determine the equilibrium system to be =

. Now we can go

[+ ][ ]

ahead and begin with the experiment. One other technique being used is
Beers law. This law is used to understand the relationship between the
absorption of light and the material it has to travel through. This law can be

summarized as
3. Procedure

The experiment will consist of two parts. To start the first experiment you
will need six volumetric flasks. You must clean them as to remove any debris
from inside of it. If not done so the calculations obtained from it may not be
valid. They must be cleaned and dried thoroughly. If any water is left inside
it may result in the dilution of the product. Once that is complete, each flask
will be marked with a number from 0-5. Each flask will have the same
amount of solution. The solutions are 0.2M Fe(NO3)3 of which 10ml will be
placed in each. Then we have .001M NaSCN. With this solution you will have
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to place (ml) according to the number you assigned to the flask. Lets say you
chose flask number 3, you will add 3ml to that flask. You need not add any
into flask number 0. Flask 0 will be known as your blank solution. You must
measure out theses two precisely as to not get to much deviation in your
calculations. The final solution being added to the flask will be 0.1M HNO3.
This solution does not have to be measured out in the graduated cylinder
because the flask will have a mark at which to fill to. Once you have mixed
all three solutions into the flask, you will then transfer them into cuvets.
These will hold a portion of your solution. With them, you will then measure
the absorbance by using the spectrophotometer. You will need to calibrate
the device first which should be set at 447nm for it to give you an accurate
reading. Once that is established you must wipe the cuvets clean of debris.
Place it into the spectrophotometer and follow the directions visible on the
screen. Once you have done this for every single sample. Use the data
recorded to determine the absorption rate of your standard solutions. You
will do this by plotting your points on a graph and from there you will draw
a line connecting the plotted points together. From here you can determine
the calibration curve which the instructor will have to approve. Once the
instructor has approved your recordings based on your graph, you may
proceed to the second part of the experiment. This portion of the experiment
is done in order to calculate the calibration curve. Start off this experiment
by obtaining an additional six volumetric flasks but this time around they
will be 10ml flasks. Now obtain 5ml samples of .002M Fe(NO3)3 and place

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them into every flask. After that is completed, do not forget to clean the
graduated cylinder for every different solution being used. You then measure
out the appropriate ml and place then to the corresponding flask. Finally,
0.01M HNO3 will be added to fill the remaining portion of the flask. Once
the samples are placed into the cuvet, we step on over to the
spectrophotometer at which we perform the same techniques already visited
earlier. From here we can determine the calibration curve based on the
plotted points in the graph. Here is the data that was gathered on my behalf:

4. Experimental Data
A. Standard Solutions to Establish Calibration
Curve
[Fe(NO3)3]

0.200

[NaSCN]

0.001

Blank

Vol. NaSCN (mL)

Mol. SCN- (mol)

0.000001

0.000002

0.000003

0.000004

0.0000
05

[SCN-] (25.0 mL)

0.00004

0.00008

0.00012

0.00016

0.0002

[FeSCN2+]

0.00004

0.00008

0.00012

0.00016

0.0002

Absorbance (AU)

0.097

0.221

0.351

0.462

0.606

mx =

3039.300

b=

-0.014

y=
B. Absorbance for Test Solutions
[Fe(NO3)3]

0.002

[NaSCN]

0.002

M
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Vol. Fe(NO3)3 (mL)

Mol Fe3+, initial (mol)
Vol. NaSCN (mL)
Mol SCN-, initial (mol)
Absorbance (AU)

10

0.00001

0.00001

0.00001

0.00001

0.00001

0.000002

0.000004

0.000006

0.000008

0.00001

0.096

0.201

0.324

0.422

0.526

10

C. Calculation of Kc

2+

[FeSCN ]eq (mol/L)

Mol. FeSCN2+eq (mol)
Mol. Fe3+, reacted
(mol)
Mol. Fe3+eq (mol)
[Fe3+]eq (10 mL)
Mol. SCN-, reacted
(mol)
Mol. SCN-eq (mol)
[SCN-]eq (10 mL)

Kc =

3.63242E05
3.63242E07

7.08716E- 0.0001113 0.0001435 0.0001778

05
41
86
04
7.08716E- 1.11341E- 1.43586E- 1.77804E07
06
06
06

3.63242E- 7.08716E- 1.11341E- 1.43586E- 1.77804E07

07
06
06
06
9.63676E- 9.29128E- 8.88659E- 8.56414E- 8.22196E06
06
06
06
06
0.0009636 0.0009291 0.0008886 0.0008564 0.0008221
76
28
59
14
96
3.63242E- 7.08716E- 1.11341E- 1.43586E- 1.77804E07
07
06
06
06
1.63676E- 3.29128E- 4.88659E- 6.56414E- 8.22196E06
06
06
06
06
0.0001636 0.0003291 0.0004886 0.0006564 0.0008221
76
28
59
14
96

[FeSCN 2+ ]
230.29257 231.75600 256.39900 255.41665 263.02144
[Fe 3+ ][SCN ]
4
91
02
97
31

Average Kc

247.3771372

Std. Dev. Kc

15.22066183
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Absorbance vs. [FeSCN2+]

0.7

y = 3039.3x - 0.0144
R = 0.9976

Absorbance, AU

0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0

0.00005

-0.1

0.0001

0.00015

0.0002

0.00025

[FeSCN2+], M

5. Calculations.
[Fe(NO3)3]this value is a given Value
[NaSCN]this value is a given value

Vol. NaSCN (mL) 1mlthis is a given value

Mol. SCN- (mol) this value is obtained by .

[SCN-] (25.0 mL) convert 25ml to L then

2+

[FeSCN ]--

Absorbance (AU) the absorbance rate was established using the spectrophotometer with
our standard sloutions

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B. Absorbance for Test Solutions

[Fe(NO3)3]=.002M These values are given
[NaSCN]=.002M these values are given

Vol. Fe(NO3)3 (mL)=5ml these values are given

Mol Fe3+, initial (mol)=.00001mol
Vol. NaSCN (mL)=1ml these values are given
Mol SCN-, initial (mol)= 0.000002 mol
Absorbance (AU)=.096gathered from the spectrophotometer
C. Calculation of Kc

[FeSCN2+]eq (mol/L)= 3.63*10^-5 [.096=3039.30x-.014] now solve for x

Mol. FeSCN2+eq (mol) =3.63*10^-7[3.63*10^-5*.01L]
Mol. Fe3+, reacted (mol)= 3.63*10^-7 --[3.63*10^-5*.01L]
Mol. Fe3+eq (mol)=9.6367*10^-6[
[Fe3+]eq (10 mL)=.00096367

9.6367106 3.63107
.01

Mol. SCN-, reacted (mol) =3.63*10^-7[3.63 105 .01]

Mol. SCN-eq (mol)=1.6367*10^-6[

1.6367106 3.63107

[SCN-]eq (10 mL).00016367

-

3.63105

9.6367104 1.63104

.01

[FeSCN 2+ ]
Kc =
[Fe 3+ ][SCN ]

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Average Kc= all Listed values are added and devided by 5. =247.3771372
230.292574 231.7560091 256.3990002

255.4166597

263.0214431

Std. Dev. Kc= 15.22066181

6. Results and Discussion

The experimental results tell us that the equilibrium constant we obtained

differed from the actual constant that was solved for. We attained a reported
data of only 247 while the Kc value of the standard solution is 271. There
may have been a few different factors that could have affected the reading.
There could have been small debris in the cuvets that hindered the
spectrophotometer thus giving us an unreliable reading. Another factor that
could have affected the final results may have been cuased by the inaccurate
measurements of the solutions when they were being mixed. I may have
added too much of one and not enough of the other. There could have also
been a rounding error in the calculations.

7. Conclusion

In conclusion, we familiarized ourselves with the techniques being used in

oreder to obtain the equilibrium constant as well as using a
spectrophotometer. This device is what helped us to tatting the absorbance of
the solution by means of electromagnetic radiation. We also carried out the
experiment based on the procedures. Once the data was gathered, it had to
be analyzed in oreder to prove that the data that was gathered proved to be

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valid. When the data was analyzed, we went ahead and began the second
experiment. After the completion of the final experiment we compared our
findings to the actual concentration of our Kc value. Now that you have
experienced this, I hope that you may have a clear understaning of this
laboratory experiment tiltled the Equilibrium Constant.

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