Zackary Park

Chloride
September 24, 2013
T.A. Michael Casey
Weerapana

Experiment 3: Determining the Empirical Formula of Copper

9-12 Tuesday
Dr. Eranthie

Pre-lab Procedure
1. Obtain a buret with copper chloride solution. Record the buret reading. Use
the buret to empty 25.0 mL of the solution into a 250 mL beaker. Record the
buret reading. This beaker is the reaction beaker. If more or less than
25.00 mL is dispensed, use that volume and the information on the bottle
label to calculate the mass of copper chloride.
2. Put 10 mL of 10% HCl solution in a 150 mL beaker to clean the piece of zinc.
Let the zinc rest in the HCl solution for 1 or 2 minutes until the zinc has
become shinier. Flip the metal to reveal the entire surface to the acid using
crucible tongs. Take the zinc out, rinse it using water, and dry it with a paper
towel. Weigh the zinc to the nearest 0.001 g. Pour the HCl solution down the
sink.
3. Pick up the zinc using crucible tongs. Hold the reaction beaker at a 45degree angle. Slowly let go of the zinc so it slides down the side of the
beaker.
4. Keep stirring the solution with a plastic spoon or stirring rod so the solid
copper does not stick to the zinc.
5. Continue stirring until the blue color has disappeared. Add 5 to 10 drops of
10% HCl solution and stir.
6. Use the crucible tongs to remove the remaining zinc. Scrape the copper into
the reaction beaker if copper is still on the zinc. Dry the zinc with a paper
towel. Determine and record the mass of the zinc.
7. Throw away the zinc in the container labeled, Discarded Zn Residue.
8. Decant the supernatant liquid into a 150 mL beaker, not losing any copper.
9. Throw away the supernatant liquid in the container labeled, Discarded
Zn(II) Solutions. Rinse the 150 mL beaker with water. Throw away the rinse
water in the container labeled, Discarded Zn(II) Solutions.
10.Wash the copper in the reaction beaker to remove white zinc chloride. Add
10 mL of water to the beaker. Mix the mixture using a stirring rod. Decant
the rinse water into the second 150 mL beaker. Do this step again.
11.Pour the rinse water in the second 150 mL beaker down the sink. Rinse the
150 mL beaker with water. Pour the rinse water down the sink.
12.Place a watchglass using crucible tongs on a hot plate for 10 minutes.
13.Move the watchglass to a ceramic-centered wire gauze on the laboratory
bench using tongs. Once the watchglass is cooled, move the watchglass to a
balance using tongs. Determine and record the mass of the watchglass.
14.Move the copper from the beaker to the watchglass using a rubber policeman
connected to a stirring rod.
15.Place the watchglass on the hot plate to dry the copper. Evaporate the water
until the copper appears to be almost dry. Then, stir the copper with a
stirring rod while heating it.
16.Move the watchglass to the ceramic-centered wire gauze when the copper
appears to be completely dry by using tongs. Allow the watchglass and its
contents to cool.
17.Hold the wire gauze underneath the watchglass to move the watchglass and
its contents to the balance. Determine and record the mass of the
watchglass and its contents.
18.Move the watchglass and its contents back to the hot plate using tongs. Heat
it again for 2 to 5 minutes. Move the watchglass and its contents to a

Zackary Park
Chloride
September 24, 2013
T.A. Michael Casey
Weerapana

Experiment 3: Determining the Empirical Formula of Copper

9-12 Tuesday
Dr. Eranthie

ceramic-centered wire gauze using tongs. Allow the watchglass and its
contents to cool.
19.Move the watchglass and its contents to the balance using tongs. Determine
and record the mass of the watchglass and its contents. Keep heating,
cooling, and weighing the copper until two successive weighings are within
0.01 g. Do not overheat the copper during the drying process.
20.
Throw away the copper in the container labeled, Discarded Cu
Residue.