Quality Control for the

Atheneum Baking Soda Company

Kristina Hanks
Introduction
Baking soda (NaHCO
3
) is a compound that has been able to replace many harmful chemicals in
the home. It is now used in cleaners, detergents, fire extinguishers, cooking, and as an
ingredient in Tums.

NaHCO
3
(baking soda) is gotten through the following reactions.
CO
2
+ 2NaOH Na
2
CO
3
+ H
2
O Na
2
CO
3
+ CO
2
+ H
2
O 2 NaHCO
3

The Athenium Baking Soda Company has recently begun producing baking soda. This company
has chosen from one of several methods of producing baking soda to react crystalline
ammonium hydrogen carbonate with brine.
NH
4
HCO
3(s)
+ NaCl
(aq)
NaHCO
3(aq)
+ NH
4
Cl
(aq)
Brine is salt water containing high concentration of sodium chloride, as well as potassium
chloride, lithium chloride, and calcium chloride. The NaHCO
3
is dried and filtered it may have
contaminants of KCl, LiCl, and CaCl
2
. Each student is to report the percentage of NaHCO
3
in the
sample. If the sample is impure, students must report whether lithium, potassium, or calcium
salts are present as impurities.


Procedure
Experimental Technique one: Determination of concentration by using MeasureNet pH probe
and drop counter
Part one: standardize HCl solution
1. Prepare 150mL of approximately 0.6M sodium hydroxide solution.
2. Add approximately 1g sodium bicarbonate to a beaker. Add sufficient distilled water to
the beaker to dissolve the sodium bicarbonate.
3. Stir to completely dissolve the sodium bicarbonate. Add enough distilled water to the
beaker to ensure that the cut-out notch on the tip of the pH electrode is completely
submerged in solution.
4. See Appendix F- Instructions for reading a Titration Curve Using the Measure Net pH
Probe and Drop Counter. Complete all the steps
5. Repeat Steps 2-4 to perform a second trial to standardize the NaOH solution
6. Steps 7-10 are to be completed after the laboratory period is concluded.
7. From the file you saved, prepare plots of the pH versus volume of HCl added, using
spreadsheet (excel). Instructions for plotting pH versus volume curves using Excel are
provided in Appendix B-4
8. Record Volume of HCl used to neutralize the Sodium Carbonate solution using
equivalence point (the center of the curve in the region where the pH changes sharply)
9. Determine the molarity of the HCl solution in trials 1 and 2.
a. The molarity is determined by first calculating the number of moles of Sodium
Carbonate dissolved in the solution
b. The ratio of moles needed of HCl to neutralize 1 mole of Na
2
CO
3
should be 1:1
c. The moles of Na
2
CO
3
should equal the number of moles of HCl
Molarity (M) = moles of solute/liter of solution

Part two: Determining Concentration of NaHCO
3
in Baking Soda.
1. Obtain 1g baking soda. Dissolve into sufficient amount of distilled water. Add enough
water for pH electrode tip is completely submerged. Record masses.
2. See Appendix F- Instructions for Recording a Titration Curve Using the MeasureNet pH
probe and Drop Counter. Complete all steps.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for a second trial
4. From files you saved, prepare plots of the pH versus volume of HCl added using
spreadsheet (excel). Instructions for plotting pH versus volume curves using Excel are
provided in Appendix B-4.
5. Determine volume of HCl required to neutralize the baking soda solution in trials 1 and 2
6. Determine the molarity of NaHCO
3
in the baking soda.
a. Calculate moles of HCl required to neutralize
b. The moles of HCl is the product of the molarity of the standardized HCl solution
times the volume of HCl used in the titration
c. The ratio of moles of HCl needed to neutralize NaHCO
3
is a ratio of 1:1
d. The molarity of the NaHCO
3
is obtained by dividing the moles in the sample by
the liters of the solution used in the titration
7. What is the average percent by mass of NaHCO
3
in the baking soda sample?
a. Divide the mass of NaHCO
3
(the baking soda) by the mass of the baking soda
solution
b. Multiplying by 100 gives the mass percent of NaHCO
3
in the baking soda






Experimental technique two: Determination of Percent by Mass of Baking Soda by Thermal
Gravimetric Analysis
1. Obtain crucible and lid. Clean using 2-3 mL of 6M hydrochloric acid. Let sit then rinse with
water
2. Place clay triangle on an iron ring supported by rig stand. Suspend crucible and lid inside
clay triangle. Place lid on crucible slightly ajar, do not completely cover crucible.
3. Heat crucible with a Bunsen burner for 5 min. the bottom of the crucible should glow
red.
4. Completely cover crucible with lid, using crucible tongs, and place crucible and lid on wire
gauze. Let crucible cool to room temperature.
5. Determine mass of cool crucible and lid
6. add approximately 1g of baking soda to crucible. Record mass of baking soda.
7. Record mass of baking soda, crucible and lid together.
8. Heat mixture gently for 5 min. periodically use crucible tongs to raise the lid and view
mixture. Do not melt solution.
9. After 5 min gentle heating, vigorously heat for 15 min.
10. Record mass of mixture, crucible and lid after cool. Mass of mixture, crucible and lid
should be determined after every heating.
11. Repeat steps 1-10 with second gram sample of baking soda to perform second trial.
12. Clean crucible
13. Determine percent mass of NaHCO
3



Determine what salts are the sample by using emissions.

Data sheet: experimental technique one Unknown #113
Mass of sodium carbonate dissolved in solution
trial 1 1.002g trial 2 1.000g
Volume of HCl needed to neutralize Na
2
CO
3

trial 1 10.1mL trial 2 10.1mL
Molarity of HCl
trial 1 0.9360M trial 2 0.9341M average 0.93505M
.009453moles/ .0101ml .009435moles/ .0101ml
mass of baking soda
trial 1 1.002g trial 2 1.001g
Volume of HCl needed to neutralize baking soda solution
trial 1 8.3mL trial 2 8.3mL
Determine the concentration of NaHCO
3
in baking soda.
Trial 1 0.007761moles trial 2 0.007761moles
percent yield NaHCO
3

trial 1 65.069% trial 2 65.134% average 65.052%

experimental technique two
mass of cool crucible and lid
trial 1 18.606g trial 2 19.477g
mass of baking soda
trial 1 1.000g trial 2 1.000g
mass of baking soda, crucible and lid
trial 1 19.606g trial 2 20.462g
mass of baking soda, crucible and lid after heating(s)
trial 1 19.350g 19.350g
trial 2 20.213g 20.213g
mass loss of mixture
trial 1 0.256g trial 2 0.249g
percent of mass NaHCO
3
trial 1 69.351% trial 2 68.482% average 68.917%

Determination of contaminants in the Baking Soda using emission


Emission
wavelength(s)
Flame Color
Energy
J/atom
Energy
J/mole
Ca
2+
620nm
554nm
Orange
flames
3.208065*10
-19
J
3.590253*10
-19
J
193.190
kJ/mol
216.205
kJ/mol
K
+
768nm
Purple-pink
flames
2.93363*10
-1
9
J
176.663
kJ/mol
Li
+
764nm
Pink-red
flames
2.95104*10
-1
9
J
177.712
kJ/mol
Baking soda
solution
589nm
769nm
Orange
flames
3.365482*10
-19
J
2.586475*10
-19
J
202.669
kJ/mol
155.758
kJ/mol

Contaminants include
K
+

According to the titration experiment, the percent mass of NaHCO
3
in the baking soda is
65.052%. in the gravimetric analysis the percent mass of NaHCO
3
in the baking soda is 68.917%
on average the percent mass is around.66.985%. Based on the emission experiment the
contaminants include potassium.