Thomas Hayes

Investigating the rate of reactions

Aim: To investigate the effect of increasing the concentration of HCl has on the rate of reaction
between Mg & HCl. Mg (g) + 2HCl (l) MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
Introduction:
The purpose of this experiment is to investigate the effect of increasing the concentration of HCl
has on the rate of reaction between Mg and HCl. In order to do this, I will dilute 1 molar HCl to
5 different concentrations (.2 M, .4 M, .6 M, .8 M and 1 M) and measure their rate of reaction
with Mg.
Hypothesis: We can expect the rate of reaction to increase as the concentration of HCl increases.
Variables:

Independent variable: Concentration of HCl

Dependent variable: The change in gas pressure of the reaction mixture
Controlled:
Amount of HCl used in each experiment A burette was used to make sure only 20 mL of HCl
was put into the flask.
Temperature of HCl All of the HCl was room temperature, if they had different temperatures
the results would be altered due to temperature changing the rate of the reaction.
Amount of Mg used in each experiment An electric scale was used to measure 1.00 g of Mg for
each trial.
Temperature The temperature was room temperature and the air conditioner was off while all
windows were closed.
Experimenter I will be conducting all of the experiments. Experimenter changes could cause
error and alter the results.
Apparatus:
-

1M HCl

- Magnesium Strips

.8M HCl
.6M HCl
.4M HCl
.2M HCl
Electric scale
300 mL beaker
Burette
Graduated Cylinder
Vernier (along with Gas Pressure Sensor)
Flask
Funnel
Burette stand
Glass plate

Uncertainties:
-

Electric scale = 0.01

Graduate cylinder = 0.1
Burette = 0.1
Magnesium strips = 0.01

Method:
1. Gather the burette, flask, funnel, glass plate, Vernier with gas pressure sensor and burette
stand.
2. Pour 50 mL of desired HCl into the burrette while its in the burette stand.
3. Weigh 1.00 g of Mg on the electric scale. If you use a glass plate to put the Mg on while
you measure it be sure to zero out the scale.
4. Put 20 mL of HCl into the flask.
5. Prepare the Mg to be put into the flask and be sure to quickly put the gas pressure sensor
on the flask as soon as the Mg is put into the flask. So you can avoid losing data and
error. Also, make sure the gas pressure sensor is closed and not open.
6. Put the 1.00 gram of Mg into the flask with 20 mL of HCl. Then quickly but the gas
pressure sensor onto the flask.
7. Let the reaction run for 105 seconds then open the gas pressure sensor.
8. Remove the gas pressure sensor and repeat the steps for each trial.
Results:

*NOTE* The amount of time each trial ran was inconsistent which could contribute to a
lot of the error. Due to the inconsistent times I recorded the pressure at 20, 40, 60, 80 and
100 seconds of each reaction.

Raw Data:

0.2 M HCl Trial 1

Analysis:
0 seconds 99.22 kPa

20 seconds 104.32 kPa

40 seconds 107.73 kPa
60 seconds 110.18 kPa
80 seconds 112.05 kPa
100 seconds 113.47 kPa

0.2 M HCl Trial 2

Analysis:
0 seconds 99.35 kPa

20 seconds 103.54 kPa

40 seconds 107. 08 kPa
60 seconds 109.66 kPa
80 seconds 111.86 kPa
100 seconds 113.47 kPa

0.2 M Trial 3

Analysis:
0 seconds 99.47 kPa
20 seconds 105.80 kPa
40 seconds 109.80 kPa
60 seconds 111.66 kPa
80 seconds 113.60 kPa
100 seconds 115.34 kPa

0.4 M HCl Trial 1

Analysis:
0 seconds 99.02 kPa
20 seconds 112.12 kPa
40 seconds 120.63 kPa
60 seconds 125.79 kPa
80 seconds 129.27 kPa
100 seconds 131.79 kPa

0.4 M HCl Trial 2

Analysis:
0 seconds 99.02 kPa
20 seconds 109.93 kPa
40 seconds 117.86 kPa
60 seconds 123.21 kPa
80 seconds 127.02 kPa
100 seconds 129.53 kPa

0.4 M HCl Trial 3

Analysis:
0 seconds 99.28 kPa
20 seconds 110.12 kPa
40 seconds 118.56 kPa
60 seconds 123.86 kPa
80 seconds 127.08 kPa

100 seconds 129.40 kPa

0.6 M HCl Trial 1

Analysis:
0 seconds 99.35 kPa
20 seconds 119.14 kPa
40 seconds 129.79 kPa
60 seconds 136.24 kPa

80 seconds 140.88 kPa

100 seconds 144.56 kPa

0.6 M HCl Trial 2

Analysis:
0 seconds 99.47 kPa
20 seconds 118.18 kPa
40 seconds 128.37 kPa
60 seconds 134.43 kPa

80 seconds 138.30 kPa

100 seconds 141.33 kPa

0.6 M HCl Trial 3

Analysis:
0 seconds 99.35 kPa
20 seconds 117.15 kPa
40 seconds 127.60 kPa

60 seconds 133.66 kPa

80 seconds 138.04 kPa
100 seconds 140.69 kPa

0.8 M HCl Trial 1

Analysis:
0 seconds 99.47 kPa
20 seconds 139.46 kPa

40 seconds 154.88 kPa

60 seconds 163.39 kPa
80 seconds 169.19 kPa
100 seconds 172.93 kPa

0.8 M HCl Trial 2

Analysis:
0 seconds 99.54 kPa

20 seconds 141.46 kPa

40 seconds 156.17 kPa
60 seconds 164.36 kPa
80 seconds 169.19 kPa
100 seconds 172.68 kPa

0.8 M HCl Trial 3

Analysis:

0 seconds 99.28 kPa

20 seconds 135.98 kPa
40 seconds 152.10 kPa
60 seconds 159.65 kPa
80 seconds 164.94 kPa
100 seconds 168.68 kPa

1.0 M HCl Trial 1

Analysis:
0 seconds 99.02 kPa
20 seconds 150.75 kPa
40 seconds 171.13 kPa
60 seconds 181.58 kPa
80 seconds 187.64 kPa
100 seconds 189.83 kPa

1.0 M HCl Trial 2

Analysis:
0 seconds 99.47 kPa
20 seconds 152.88 kPa
40 seconds 172.87 kPa
60 seconds 183.00 kPa
80 seconds 188.93 kPa
100 seconds 192.15 kPa

1.0 M HCl Trial 3

Analysis: There was a little error in the beginning of the reaction because the gas sensor pressure
allowed a little of the gas out from the reaction.
0 seconds 99.09 kPa
20 seconds 139.53 kPa
40 seconds 159.71 kPa
60 seconds 168.48 kPa
80 seconds 173.26 kPa
100 seconds 176.16 kPa

Processed Data: