Chemistry project

To determine the percentage of calcium carbonate in eggshell

Content
Introduction Principle of this experiment Apparatus and equipments Experiment procedures Chemical used Sample used Source of errors Assumption made Experimental results Calculations Conclusion Sources of references

Introduction
1960's - 1970's USA used a pesticide, DDT extensively Run-off from DDT entered our waterways and eventually into many of our wild birdlife. DDT affected the population by weakening the eggshells which would break before hatching. An example of this devastation was the American Bald Eagle whose population was as low as 400 mating pairs in the lower 48 states. DDT has been banned in the USA and the Bald Eagle is no longer on the endangered species list. One method of monitoring the strength of the egg is by determining the percentage of calcium carbonate in the eggshell. This can be accomplished through an acid/base titration method.

Principle of the experiment

During this lab, the percentage of CaCO3 in an eggshell is determined by reacting the eggshell with hydrochloric acid. The equation for this reaction is:

2HCl (aq) + CaCO3(s) Ca2+ (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l) + 2Cl- (aq) This reaction cannot be used directly titrate with the CaCO3. Instead, an excess of hydrochloric acid is added to dissolve the eggshell, and the remaining acid is titrated with NaOH solution to determine the amount of acid that did not react with the eggshell. The equation used to determine the amount of leftover acid is:

HCl (aq) + NaOH (aq) H2O (l) + Na+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)

In order to help the hydrochloric acid dissolve the CaCO3, ethyl alcohol is added to the eggshell as a wetting agent. Wetting agents are chemicals that increase the spreading and penetrating properties of a liquid by lowering its surface tensionthat is, the tendency of its molecules to adhere to each other. Although it is now banned in the United States, the pesticide DDT has caused significant damage to the environment and its wildlife. Birds are especially affected because the DDT weakens the shells of their eggs, which would break before hatching. This caused certain bird species to become endangered (i.e. the American bald eagle). One method of monitoring the strength of the egg is by determining the percentage of calcium carbonate in the eggshell. The percentage of calcium carbonate indicate that the strength of the eggshell and the strength of the eggshell show how serious the pesticide damaged to the eggshell.

Apparatus and equipments

250.00 cm3 beaker
glass rod Filter funnel

X4
X1 X1

Wash bottle
Electronic balance Weighing bottle

X1
X1 X1

250.00cm3 volumetric flask

25.00 cm3 pipette

X2
X2

 Conical flasks
Measuring cylinder Bunsen burner

X2
X1 X2

Heatproof mat
Burette Wire gaze Tripod White tile Mortar and pestle Oven

X1
X2 X2 X2 X2 X2 X1

Chemical used
0.1M NaOH 0.2M HCl Phenolphthalein Ethanol

Sample used

2 different eggs (1 white & 1 brown)

USA
Malaysia

Procedures
1) The eggs was boiled and cooled down. 2) The protein membrane was removed on the inside of the boiled eggshell. 3) The eggshell was washed with distilled water

5) The eggshell was then grounded into fine powder by mortar and pestle.

(white egg)

(brown egg)

6) Dried in an oven for ten minutes.

7)

0.2g of eggshell powder is weighted accurately by using an electronic balance and it was transferred to a conical flask.

8) 25.00 cm3 of HCl was pipetted to dissolve the eggshell powder and 5 cm3 of ethanol was also added in order to help the HCl dissolve the CaCO3 9) Distilled water was added to the flask until it reached about 50cm3. The flask was swirled gently.

10) The mixture was boiled for about 15 minutes (boiling away CO2) and then cooled down.

10) Boil !!

15 minutes!!!

Cool down!!

Experimental set-up
Burette stand

NaOH

Burette
25.00cm3 of HCl +
0.2g if egg shell powder + 5.00cm3 of ethanol + 3 drops of phenolphthalein +

stopcock

Conical flask

about 20.00cm3 of distilled water

11) The solution was then titrated with standardized NaOH. 12) Repeat another sample

Experimental results
The colour change of the solution:

White egg:
Colourless pink

Brown egg: Colourless

pink

The titration result of brown egg:

Trial
Final burette reading/cm3 Initial burette reading/cm3 Volume of NaOH used/cm3

15.20 20.00 18.30 13.10

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

15.20 20.00 18.30 13.10

Average volume of NaOH used: (20.00+18.30+13.10)/3=17.13cm3

The titration result of white egg:

Trial
Final burette reading/cm3 Initial burette reading/cm3 Volume of NaOH used/cm3

19.50 19.60 19.80 19.70 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

19.50 19.60 19.80 19.70

Average volume of NaOH used: (19.60+19.80+19.70)/3=19.7cm3

Calculations
2HCl (aq) + CaCO3(s) Ca2+ (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l) + 2Cl- (aq)
HCl (aq) + NaOH (aq) H2O (l) + Na+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)

For brown egg:

Number of moles of NaOH used to react with HCl:
(17.13cm3 /1000) X0.1M = 1.713 X 10-3 mol

Since number of moles of NaOH = number of moles of HCl

= 1.713 X 10-3 mol The initial no of moles of HCl: volume X molarity = 25/1000 X0.2M = 5X10-3 mol Number of moles of HCl used to react with CaCO3 : ( 5X10-3 - 1.713 X 10-3) mol =3.287 X10-3 mol

According to the equation, one mole of HCI required to react with 2 moles of CaCO3,

Number of moles of CaCO3 reacted:

3.287X10- 3 /2 = 1.6435X10-3 mol The weight of CaCO3: 1.6435X10-3g X100.1 =0.1645g

The % of CaCO3 in eggshell (brown) :

(0.1645/0.2) X100% = 82.25%

For white egg:

Number of moles of NaOH used to react with HCl: (19.7/1000)X0.1 = 1.97X10-3mol Since number of moles of NaOH = number of moles of HCl = 1.97X10-3mol The initial moles of HCl: volume X molarity = 25/1000 X0.2M = 5X10-3 mol Number of moles of HCl used to react with CaCO3 : ( 5X10-3 - 1.97X10-3) mol =3.03 X10-3 mol

Number of moles of CaCO3 reacted: 3.03 X10-3/2 = 1.515X10-3 mol The weight of CaCO3: 1.515X10-3g X100.1 =0.15165g

The % of CaCO3 in eggshell (white) :

(0.15165/0.2) X100% = 78.83%

Summary of Calculations
For Brown egg:
No. of moles of NaOH used to react with HCl/ mol No. of moles of HCl used to react with NaOH /mol Initial moles of HCl / mol No. of moles of HCl used to react with CaCO3 /mol No. of mols of CaCO3 reacted/ mol The weight of CaCO3/ g The % of CaCO3in eggshell 2.97X 10-3 2.97X 10-3 1X10-2

7.07 X10-3 3.535X10-3

0.3535

70.07%

For white egg:

No. of moles of NaOH used to react with HCl/ mol No. of moles of HCl used to react with NaOH /mol Initial moles of HCl / mol No. of moles of HCl used to react with CaCO3 /mol No. of mols of CaCO3 reacted/ mol The weight of CaCO3/ g

1.97 X 10-3 1.97 X 10-3 5X10-3 3.03 X10-3 1.515X10-3 0.1517

The % of CaCO3in eggshell

75.82%

Sources of errors
The eggshell powder did not dissolve completely Variation in visual judgement at the end point Instrumental errors of the electronic balance The eggshell was not fully dried
Some droplets of solution may still adhere on the beaker and the glass rod which lead to the reduction in number of moles of excess HCl we should wash our hands after the experiment

There was vaporization during boiling.

Remarks
During titration, control the stopcock of the burette with your left hand. Swirl the conical flask with your right hand Use a conical flask to dissolved the eggshell since colourless gas bubbles will be evolved. It is to prevent the solution from jumping out .(CO2 is formed) When dissolving the eggshell in a conical flask, use a stirrer to stir the solution well in order to make sure that the eggshell is totally dissolved After pouring the solution mixture of eggshell and HCl into a volumetric flask, remember to rinse the stirrer and the conical flask with distilled water and pour the washing to the volumetric flask After filling up the burette with NaOH, we should remember to remove the filter funnel on the top of the burette Bubble in the burette should be removed before the initial reading of the burette is read we should swirl the conical flask after each addition. Distilled water should be added to rinse the NaOH down the flask Put a white tile under the conical flask for clearer observation

Safety precautions
Dilute NaOH is corrosive Do not touch chemicals with bare hands Safety goggles should be put on during the experiment We should wash our hands after the experiment

Conclusion
By comparing the percentage of two eggs, brown egg (Malaysia) has a higher percentage than white egg (USA) indicate brown egg has a higher strength than white egg. It also show that eggs from USA have a more serious problem of using DDT.

Sources of references
http://www.chem.csustan.edu/chem1102/E gg.htm www.wikipedia.com

The end! Thank you for your attention! ByeBye!