Stoichiometry of a Reaction and Limiting Reactant Introduction A chemical reaction can be described by an equation.

The equation shows the relationship of the moles of reactants to moles of products. Since matter is neither created nor destroyed in chemical reactions (Law of Conservation of Mass), the equation must show equal numbers of atoms of each element in both reactants and products. Such an equation is said to be 'balanced." Stoichiometry is the study of quantity relationships in chemical reactions. The stoichiometry of a reaction is based on the mole. The coefficients in the balanced equation represent the relative numbers of moles of substances that react or are formed in the reaction. For practical reasons, the quantities of the reactants used in a reaction are generally not in the same mole proportions as the balanced chemical equation. It is important to be able to predict how much product will form under these conditions. Purpose To demonstrate that substances react in proportions related to the number of moles of reactants. To show that if the reactants are not present in stoichiometric proportions, the substance present in smallest stoichiometric amount (limiting reactant) will determine the amount of product(s) formed. Safety 1. Wear protective goggles throughout the laboratory activity. 2. Carefully clean up any spills. 3. Exercise caution in lighting the burner. Loose hair should be tied back. Hair ignites easily especially if hair spray is used. 4. Always exercise caution when handling glassware especially if it is hot. Hot and cold glass looks the same! Procedure 1. Weigh accurately a clean, dry 50- or 100-ml beaker. Record the mass. Add to the beaker the assigned quantity (1-2 g) of Fe filings. Reweigh accurately the beaker and contents. Record the mass. 2. Weigh accurately a 150- or 250-ml beaker. Add approximately 4-5 g of CuS04.5H20. Reweigh accurately and record the mass of beaker and CuS04.5H20. Add approximately 70 ml water (preferably distilled water) to the beaker. Warm the beaker and stir carefully to dissolve the solid. (Do not boil the solution.) Record the solution's color. 3. Remove the burner under the beaker (or remove the beaker from the hot plate) and carefully pour the Fe filings into the CuS04 solution a little at a time. After each addition of Fe filings, wait for the reaction to subside. Record your observations.

4. To speed up the reaction, gently heat the beaker. The reaction should be complete when the solution reaches the boiling point. Do not boil the liquid; you may lose some of your product. Record your observations. 5. When the reaction is complete (no Fe filings remain; look from below if you have a problem seeing whether Fe filings remain), allow the solid to settle. Let the beaker cool until it is safe to touch. Add 1-2 drops of a detergent solution to prevent the solid particles from floating on the surface of the liquid. Carefully decant into a beaker (pour off the liquid leaving the solid behind). Record the appearance of the decant (the liquid poured off). You will not be able to pour off all the liquid, but pour off as much as possible without losing any of the solid. (If you accidentally pour some of the solid off with the decant, you can carefully pour the decant into another beaker, wash the particles back into the beaker with the solid reaction product and try decanting again.) Dispose of the decant as your teacher directs. 6. Wash the solid by adding 10 ml water (preferably distilled water). Swirl very gently. (Be very careful not to spill the solid and ruin your results!) Let the solid settle. Decant (as described in Step 5). Continue the washing procedure several times until the wash water is colorless. After the last washing decant as much water as possible so drying will not take so long. 7. Dry the solid in a drying oven. Alternatively, place the beaker where it can remain undisturbed; allow to dry overnight. (The beaker may also be placed under a heat lamp to evaporate the water.) Do not leave the solid in a drying oven overnight. If the solid is allowed to stay at an elevated temperature for a long period of time, it may react with oxygen in the air and alter the results. 8. Cool the beaker. Weigh the beaker and contents accurately and record the mass. 9. Thoroughly wash your hands before leaving the laboratory. 10. Prepare a data table like the one shown.

Data Table

1. Mass of 50-mL beaker 2. Mass of 5O-mL beaker and Fe filings 3. Mass of Fe filings 4. Mass of 250-mL beaker 5. Mass of 250-mL beaker and CuSO4.5H2O 6. Mass of CuS04.5H20 7. Mass of 250-mL beaker and Cu 8. Mass of Cu

71.46 g 73.12 g 1.66 g 108.38 g 112.06 g 3.68 g 110.24 g 1.86 g

Part I. Data Analysis: Stoichiometry of the Reaction 1. Calculate moles of Fe used from the mass of Fe used and the molar mass of Fe. 2. Calculate moles CuSO4 used. Since one mole of CuSO4.5H2O contains one mole of CuSO4, the moles of CuSO4.5H2O equal the moles of CuS04.

3. Calculate moles Cu formed in the reaction from the mass of Cu obtained and the molar mass of Cu.

4. Tabulate the mole data for the class. Plot a graph of moles Cu vs. moles Fe. (Graph moles Cu on the y-axis; moles Fe on the x-axis.) Draw the best straight line through the data points. You must go to the white board and post your data for other classes to observe. Use the Lab White board in the back of the room. Explain the trend you observe in this graph. Is this graph a direct or indirect relationship? Why does this graph tell you about the relationship between the moles of iron used and the moles of copper created?

Part II. Data Analysis: Limiting Reactant 5. From your balanced equation, what do you expect a graph of mol Cu vs. mol CuS04 looks like? Prove this relationship through a mathematical

equation. What is the mole relationship between mol of copper created and mol of copper (II) sulfate used?

6. Using the class data, plot a graph of mol Cu vs. mol CuS04. Does the graph look like your prediction? Explain this trend and the graphical relationship that results from this plot.

7. Using the mole ratio from the balanced equation, calculate the moles Fe that would react with the total moles CuSO4 used?

8. Based on your observations and mathematical calculations, calculate the mol of excess reactant.

9. Using the theoretical mol of copper calculated, find the theoretical mass of copper that should have been produced in your reaction.

10. Compare the theoretical (calculated) moles Cu with the moles Cu obtained in the reaction. The reactant (CuSO4 or Fe) that gives the number of moles Cu closest to the experimental value is called the limiting reactant since this substance limits the yield of products. Calculation of moles of product(s) from the moles of limiting reactant agrees with experimental results. What is the limiting reactant? Calculate the percent error from the theoretical mass of copper that should have been produced and the experimental mass that was produced.

The Lab Report Poster: 1. Your lab report will completed as a tri-fold poster project. This poster will contain four segments: 1) the data table, 2) the answers to the questions from part I of the lab report, 3) the answers to the questions from part II of the lab report, and 4) a section of research that thoroughly demonstrates

how one of the reactants or products from the stoichiometry reaction studied in this experiment is used in industry today. This poster must be complete, visual, contain pictures, and references of all materials and resources used during the study of your reaction. The poster must also contain two graphs of the stoichiometry reaction; these are the answers to questions #4 and #6 in the lab, as well as detailed explanations of the trends seen in each of these graphs. The poster could have the following layout:

Title, Names, Period

Data Table

Questions and Answers to Part I

Research and Applications

Graph 1

Questions and Answers to Part II Graph 2

Bibliography