CM011L: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS (LABORATORY)

1ST Quarter SY 2018-2019

Molar Mass of Volatile Liquid (Experiment 02)

Manguiam, Von Louie R.1, Delos Reyes, Immanuel, T.2

1Professor, School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering and Sciences, Mapúa University; 2Student, CM011L/A9, Mapúa University

ABSTRACT

A volatile liquid are liquids that vaporize easily and does have a boiling point. The Dumas method was primarily used for an
accurate determination of molar mass. The ideal gas law became the basis of Dumas method to determine the molecular weight
by using the formula PV=nRT. The objective of this experiment is to measure the physical properties of pressure, volume, and
temperature for a gaseous substance by using the ideal gas law and determine the molar mass (molecular weight) of a volatile
liquid. Using a barometer, the pressure of the of the Erlenmeyer flask was identified. Boiling chips was placed on the flask to
prevent water from overheating with foil and rubber band attached to the flask. Thermometer was used to record the temperature
of the boiling water inside the flask. After the vaporization the left water on the flask was put on a graduated cylinder to identify
how much volume was vaporized from the original amount of volume. By this you can determined the molar mass and moles of
vapor by using Ideal gas law. After doing the experiment, moles of vapor was calculated using PV=nRT. The mass of the vapor
was calculated by subtracting the before and after weights of the flask and molar mass of the vapor can be determined. This
experiment will help students to give them further knowledge on how to determine a molar mass of volatile liquid which helps to
analysed certain amount of chemical in a physical of a substance.

Keywords: Molar mass, ideal gas law, volatile liquid, dumas method, compound

INTRODUCTION

A volatile liquid are liquids that vaporize easily and
does have a boiling point. Molar mass is a property which
helps us to distinguish the molar mass of the volatile liquid
(Isopropyl alcohol). A technique to know the molecular mass
is by using the ideal gas law, PV=nRT where p is the
pressure, V is the volume, n is the amount of substance, R
is the gas constant, and T is the temperature which is the
basis for the dumas method. An ideal gas is a hypothetical
gas dreamed by chemists and students because it would be
much easier if things like intermolecular forces (Laugier,
2007).
The purpose of this experiment is to measure the
physical properties of pressure, volume and temperature for
gaseous substance by using the Ideal gas law and also to
determine the molar mass molecular weight of volatile liquid
which is an Isopropyl alcohol
MATERIALS AND METHODS
researchers weigh the Erlenmeyer flask with aluminium foil
and rubber band attached by using digital weighing scale.
Then put the flask into the iron stand with wire gauze and
beaker. A three hundred (300) ml of tap water was put on the
beaker then submerged the flask into the beaker with water
and boiling chips. Next, the researchers put the volatile liquid
(isopropyl alcohol) by injecting it using a syringe. Then they
started to boil it by using the Bunsen burner and wait until
there are bubbles signifying is boiling. After boiling they
waited for at least thirty (30) seconds to cool it down and
measure the mass of the Erlenmeyer flask. Once they got
the mass they measured the atmospheric pressure using a
barometer. Lastly, they used the obtained atmospheric
pressure to find the volume of the Erlenmeyer flask after
dumping it inside the beaker.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In this experiment, Ideal gas law was used to
determine the molecular mass of the compounds.

Materials used in the experiment are; Erlenmeyer PV=nRT

flask, Beaker, Iron clamp, iron stand, wire gauze, Bunsen
burner, matches, barometer and isopropyl alcohol. First, the

Experiment 01│ Group No.│ Date of Experiment 1 of 3

 CM011L: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS (LABORATORY)
1ST Quarter SY 2018-2019
Figure 1.1. Volatile Liquid (Isopropyl alcohol)
Figure 1.2. Injecting of volatile liquid to water
Figure 1.3. Boiling of water with volatile liquid
Experiment 01│ Group No.│ Date of Experiment
Table 1. Preparing the sample
Setup Trial
Mass of dry flask, foil, and rubber
85.57g
band (g)
The group measured the Erlenmeyer flask in a
digital weighting scaled that given us a result of 85.88g.
Table 2. Vaporize the sample
Setup Trial
Temperature of boiling water 93°C. 366.15K
Mass of dry flask, foil, rubber
85.88g
band, and vapor
The temperature measured using a thermometer
on the beaker was 93 °C which is equal to 366.15 K and
the obtained mass of the dry flask, foil, rubber band and
vapor was 85.88g.
Table 3. Determine the Volume and Pressure of the Vapor
Setup Trial
Volume of 125-mL flask(L) 167 mL = 0.167 L
Atmospheric pressure (torr, atm) 756 torr, 0.995 atm
The data that was collected by computing the total
volume which was 0.50 mL + 0.50 mL + 0.50 mL + 0.17 mL
which resulted to 167 mL converted to L gives 0.167 L. The
group got a 756 torr which can be converted to 0.995 atm.
Table 4. Calculations
Setup Trial
Moles of vapor, n(vapor)[mol] 0.0055 mol
Mass of vapor, m(vapor)[g] 0.32g
Molar mass of compound (g/mol) 56.36 g/mol
Average molar mass (g/mol) 56.36 g/mol
The obtained calculations for the moles of vapor
was determined using the ideal gas law PV=nRT that
resulted to 0.0055 mol of vapor and by subtracting the before
and after mass of flask gives a 0.32 g difference. Lastly, the
molar mass of the compound and average molar mass is the
same which is 56.36 g/mol.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION
In conclusion, the average molar mass was 56.36
g/mol. During the experiment we encountered some errors in
the experiment especially on the boiling of the Erlenmeyer
flask that we didn’t notice if the flask is boiling already so got
a ninety-three (93) degrees Celsius instead of temperature
nearer to the boiling point which is one hundred (100)
2 of 3
 CM011L: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS (LABORATORY)
1ST Quarter SY 2018-2019

degrees Celsius. Take time on boiling of the flask it’s much

better if large bubbles come to know that the water is in its
boiling point.

REFERENCES

Laugier, A.G., (2007). Derivation of the Ideal Gas

Law. Journal of Chemical Education. 2007, Vol. 84, Iss. 11,
pgs. 1832 -1833.

Levine, S. T., (2003) Derivation of the Ideal Gas

Law. Journal of Chemical Education.1985, Vol. 62, Iss. 5,
pgs. 399.

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