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Thrupti Parekh
CHE 1415-01
Lab 3a partners- Alexis Jackson, Hien Pham, Temullen.
Lab 3b – Thrupti Parekh
April 30th, 2019

Experiment 3a and 3b: Aluminum Content Via Redox Reaction And

Colorimetry.

Introduction:

This report discusses an experiment focusing on how much pure aluminum is present in

commercial samples by using 2 methods. Which are Redox reaction and colorimetry.

This report discusses an experiment to study, how much pure aluminum content is present

in a commercial samples through stoichiometric relationship between aluminum and released

hydrogen gas and also will find out how much pure aluminum is present in aluminum foils by

measuring the amount of formed hydrogen gas through mass balance of the reaction system.

Redox is the oxidation and reduction reaction, which is type of chemical reaction that

involves a transfer of electron between two species. For example, in daily routine life we have

seen iron rusting. Stoichiometric calculations are about calculating the amount of substances that

react and form in a chemical reaction (the aluminum association ,1981). Based on the balanced

chemical equation, we can calculate the amount of a product substance that will form, if we begin

with a specific amount of one or more reactants. In this experiment, we will obtain pure aluminum

content from the reaction of aluminum sample with solution of HCL. From the actual of aluminum

obtained, we can then calculate the percent error of aluminum content.

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We will also study the absorbance of different solutions with different concentrations of

aluminum. The absorbance will be measured by equipment called a Spec-20 colorimeter. It is a

device which measures absorbance of wavelength of light by a specific solution. The simple

way to understand the concept of this is what and how much amount is dissolved in a solution.

The whole concept of this experiment is to obtain how much pure aluminum is present in

commercial samples by using some chemical reaction and equipment.

Objective:

The purpose of the experiment on aluminum content via Redox reaction, is to determine the

aluminum content in commercial samples through stoichiometry and standard curve of the

volume of the hydrogen gas produced verses the mass of aluminum consumed. And the

purpose of experiment aluminum content via colorimetry, is to determine the aluminum content

in Reynolds wrap and great value foils using Spec-20 colorimeter.

Experiment 3a - Aluminum content via redox reaction

Result:

The below data Table 1 represents the experimental value obtained from using hydrogen

collection apparatus and different samples of pure aluminum. We used pure aluminum wire and

weighed. The weight of the wire was recorded and then it was placed in into a filter flask. 25 mL

of hydrochloric acid was added and stirred by using stir plate. The reaction was stirred until no

more gas is evolved. The volume was recorded in the table through hydrogen gas produced

from the graduated cylinder. We repeated same method by using different weights of aluminum

sample.

It is observed that when we have tried different sample of aluminum, some of them are

dissolved fast and some of them are not. And when we tried 2 different types of aluminum foils
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such as Reynolds wrap and Great value, it is observed Reynolds wrap was little warmer than

Great value foil. And we also observed a little color change in reaction of foils compared to

aluminum wire samples. After all calculation we found GV foil has purer than RW foil.

Table 1: Mass of aluminum sample and volume of hydrogen gas produced

Mass of aluminum sample Volume of hydrogen

0.043 g 87 mL

0.060 g 108 mL

0.087 g 148 mL

0.114 g 170 mL

Using information from table 1, a standard curve was constructed (Figure 1).

Figure (1):

Pure Aluminum Sample

200
180 170
y = 1498.7x + 11.478
160 R² = 0.972 148
Volume of Hydrogenn(mL)

140
120 108

100 87
80
60
40
20
0
0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12
Mass of Metal (g)
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The above Figure 1 represents the graph of pure aluminum from Table 1. The

horizontal axis represents data of the metal in grams (g) and vertical axis represent volume of

hydrogen in milliliters(mL). The positive trend of the line indicates that as the metal mas

increases, there is more aluminum present. The purpose of graphing is to get equation of the

trendline to find the amount of pure aluminum in a commercial sample that we will use as a

standard to calculate the data in Table 2. The data Table 2 below represents the weight of

commercial sample used and volume of hydrogen produced.

Table 2: Data of mass and volume of Commercial sample Aluminum

Aluminum Sample Mass of metal Volume of hydrogen

Reynolds wrap 0.098 mg 166 mL

Great value 0.099 mg 160 mL

Calculations:

Equation from the Figure 1 the actual mass of the aluminum metal calculated in both

sample Reynolds wrap and Great value foils. Equation of the line>>> y=1498.7x+11.478 (Fig.1)

Reynolds wrap: Great value:

Y=1498.7x+11.478 Y=1498.7x+11.478

X=y-11.487/1498.7 X=y – 11.487/1498.7

X= 166 – 11.487/1498.7 X= 160 – 11.487/1498.7

X= 0.103 g X=0.099 g
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Another method to Calculate the mass of Aluminum in the Aluminum foils using ideal gas

law and stoichiometry,

PV=nRT (ideal gas law)

Where P is pressure, V is volume, R is planks constant, T is temperature at STP

P=1.00 atm, R=0.0826 L.atm/mol.k , T=293 K V of H2 in Reynolds wrap(RW)=166 mL(0.166 L)

V of H2 in great value (GV) = 160mL (0.160 L)

Reynolds Wrap:

PV=nRT>>>n=PV/RT

0.0826 𝐿.𝑎𝑡𝑚
𝑛(𝑅𝑊) = 1.00 𝑎𝑡𝑚 × 0.166 𝐿/ [ 𝑚𝑜𝑙.𝑘
]× 293 𝐾

n(RW)=6.9 * 10^-3 mol of H2

Stoichiometry relation

Balanced chemical equation

2Al (s) + 6HCl (aq) 2AlCl3 (aq) + 3H2 (g)

2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐴𝑙 26.98 𝑔 𝐴𝑙
6.9.10−3 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐻2 × 3 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐻2 × 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐴𝑙
= 0.120 𝑔

Great value:

PV=nRT >>> n=PV/RT

0.0826 𝐿.𝑎𝑡𝑚
𝑛(𝐺𝑊) = (1.00 𝑎𝑡𝑚 × 0.160 𝐿)/ [ 𝑚𝑜𝑙.𝐾
] (293 𝐾)

n(GW)= 6.6 * 10^-3 mol of H2

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Stoichiometry relationship

2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐴𝑙 26.98 𝑔 𝐴𝐿
6.6 × 10−3 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐻2 × 3 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐻2 × 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐴𝑙
= 0.120 𝑔

Calculation of percent error,

From the equation of the line calculations we have RW=0.103 and GV=0.099

Formula for calculate percent error: (theoretical value – actual value / theoretical value) * 100%

Percent error in RW>>> [(0.103 - 0.098)/0.098] ×100% = 5.1%

Percent error in GW>>> (0.099 - 0.099/0.099) × 100% = 0%

From the stoichiometry calculation we have RW=0.120 g and GV=0.120 g

Percent error in RW>>> [(0.120 – 0.098)/0.098] ×100% = 22%

Percent error in GV>>> [(0.120 – 0.099)/0.099] ×100%= 21%

Experiment 3b

Result:

The below data table 3, represent the absorbance value of known sample. The absorbance

of the sample was found by using equipment Spec-20 colorimeter. At the beginning the

colorimeter was blanked by using deionized water and set wavelength at 530 nm. Once the

spectrometer became zero, we have started finding the wavelength of the known aluminums

concentration solution and absorbance was recorded in the below table 3. The process was

repeated with different concentration of known samples and absorbance was recorded. After

this we experimented on unknown concentration of aluminum sample. For that we have

prepared a stock solution, which was the mixture of 1 mL of buffer solution, 1 mL of ascorbic

acid and 50 mg of aluminum sample dissolved in HCl solution.

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It is observed that every sample which we have used has different absorbance and when

we have tried same procedure on commercial sample(foils), the RW (Reynolds wrap) dissolved

faster in HCl solution than GV (Great value). It is also observed the temperature of the liquid

was changed while dissolving. In the results GV has less error comparing to RW.

Table 3: Known Concentration and their Absorbance

Sample Concentration (mg/L) Absorbance

Blank 0 0

Known 1 14.4 mg/L 0.30

Known 2 21.6 mg/L 0.39

Known 3 28.8 mg/L 0.56

Known 4 36.0 mg/L 0.72

Known 5 43.2 mg/L 0.80

The below Figure 2 represent the construction of standard curve by using data table 3. In

Figure 2 horizontal line represent concentration of known sample and vertical line represent

absorbance. Whereas the in the equation of the line, R^2 represent coefficient of determination.
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Figure (2):

Graph of known aluminum sample.

0.9 0.83

0.8 y = 0.0194x + 0.0014

R² = 0.9961 0.72
0.7

0.6 0.56
Absorbance

0.5
0.39
0.4
0.3
0.3

0.2

0.1
0
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Concentration

Table 4: data table of commercial sample concentration and it’s absorbance

Sample Concentration Absorbance Absorbance Absorbance Absorbance

(mg/L) 1 2 3 average

Reynolds 20.00 mg/L 0.31 .034 0.33 0.32

wrap

Great value 20.36 mg/L 0.22 0.33 0.32 0.29

Calculations

Equation of the line from the Figure 2>>> Y=mX+B

Whereas X is mass of aluminum content and Y is absorbance

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Reynolds wrap: Great value:

Y=0.0194X+0.0014 Y=0.0194X+0.0014

X= Y – 0.0014/0.0194 X=Y – 0.0014/0.0194

X=0.32 – 0.0014/0.0194 X=0.29 – 0.0014/0.0194

X= 16 mg X=15 mg

To determine the actual mass of aluminum metal in both foils, we have used equation to

calculate the concentration, C1V1=C2V2.

Calculations: Concentration of the solution

C1V1=C2V2

Where c is the concentration and v are volume.

Reynolds wrap:

C1=50.00 mg/ 0.100 L V1=0.001L C2=? V2=0.025 L

C1V1=C2V2

C1V1/V2=C2

(500 mg/L) (0.001L)/ (0.025 L) =C2

C2=20.0 mg/L

Great value:

C1=50.9 mg/0.100 L V1=0.001 L C2=? V2=0.025 L

C1V1=C2V2

C1V1/V2=C2
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(509 mg/L) (0.001L)/ (0.025 L) = C2

C2=20.4 mg/L

Stoichiometry:

Reynolds wrap:

20.00 mg/L ×0.1 L (total volume of stock solution 100 mL) = 0.02g

Great value:

20.40 mg/L ×0.1 L (total volume of stock solution 100 mL) = 0.0204g

Calculation of Percent error:

From the equation of the line calculations we have RW= 0.16 g and GV=0.15 g

Percent error in RW>>> [(0.16 – 0.050)/0.050] ×100%= 220%

Percent error in GV>>> [(0.15 – 0.0509)/0.0509] ×100%=195%

Discussion:

To discuss about the experiment, in the first experiment determining aluminum content via

Redox reaction, we found the aluminum content in a commercial sample through ideal gas law,

stoichiometry and plotting graph of volume produced verses mass consumed. In the beginning

to get a volume of H2 produced, we have used hydrogen collection apparatus method. As the

aluminum sample dissolving in a HCl solution by stirring it on a stirring plate, it’s observed that

the hydrogen gas is releasing in volumetric flask and collecting at graduated cylinder. As the

sample completely dissolved it stops producing gas. Since hydrogen collected in graduated

cylinder was recorded in the table 1. The process was repeated, and volume was recorded of

each sample used as mentioned in the table 1. Which shows increasing in mass increases
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volume. Those calculations were used to plot a graph and equation of the trend line obtained

the figure 1. R^2 value represents linear trend line which has the value 0.972. This is near 1,

which indicated how much pure aluminum is.

The same procedure was experimented on commercial samples. By comparing both

samples RW and GV foils, we obtained pure aluminum content 0.120 g in both foils. After this

percent error was calculated and it’s observed by comparing both foils, GV has less error than

RW. There may be an error while doing experiment. While inverting the graduate cylinder may

occurred bubbles and difference in volume. Another error would be recording the volume from

graduated cylinder or may foils are not cleaned steel wool.

The purpose of second experiment, determining aluminum content via colorimeter. Why

we are using spec – 20 equipment, because it will measure the absorbance of the sample

solution. By the absorbance we can calculate the concentration and from that aluminum

content. After experimented all the absorbance was recorded from the spectrometer in the data

table 3. Using table 3, figure 2 was plotted. It represents the concentration of the solution verses

it’s absorbance. A trend linear line was plotted. Which indicated there how pure aluminum of

known concentration and we compared to the unknown concentration.

The procedure was repeated for commercial sample of foils known as Reynolds wrap and

great value. We have used 50 mg of commercial sample and concentration of the solution was

calculated from the table 4, using equation C1V1=C2V2. After plugging the values, we have

20.0 mg/L concentration in Reynolds wrap and 20.4 mg/L in Great value. We calculated

concentration because we must obtain pure aluminum content. After plugging in the values to

the equation aluminum content in both foils was 0.02 g. In the calculation the percent error we

found more errors in RW than GV.

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When comparing the values that were calculated using the standard curve to the other value the

experiment via spectrometer are reasonable than others, but not accurate. When we

researched about the how pure aluminum in RW and GV foils on the website

(reynoldskitchen.com), the aluminum foil has 98.5% aluminum. When we compared to our

values, it is reasonable to infer that the aluminum foil is made up of very least aluminum

possible. (AlFiPa,2019)

Conclusion:

To be conclude of these experiments, first experiment determining aluminum content via

redox reaction helps us to understand that how much aluminum content is present in

commercial aluminum sample through stoichiometry relationship and standard curve in this

experiment 0.012 g aluminum in both foils from the calculation of equation of the line and

0.103g and 0.099 g from the stoichiometric relationship. In the second experiment determining

aluminum content via spectrometer we have calculated aluminum content through absorbance.

In this experiment we have 0.2 g in both foils from the equation of the line and 0.016 g, 0.015 g

from the stoichiometric relationship. By comparing both experiment and their methods we

obtained there is no great difference between both foils in content of pure aluminum. And

experiment via colorimetry is better than all other methods because there is less percent error in

that experiment and has a better trend line (but not accurate) which indicates pure aluminum.
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Reference:

Aluminum foil. The aluminum association. 1981

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Aluminum-Foil.html

Reynolds kitchens.

http: www.reynoldskichens,com/aluminum-foil/standard-foil/ (November 27, 2018). Imprint Golf

Karl Quad, Dr.Daniel Quad. AlFiPa(aluminum film paper).

http://alfipa.com (accessed 2019)