Exploring the Different Methods and Instruments for Obtaining the Accurate Weight of Chemicals

Your Name INSTRUCTOR: Joe Dough Tuesday, July 12, 2011

PURPOSE/INTRODUCTION The purpose of this experiment is to become familiar with the different methods and instruments used for determining the mass of a chemical. There are several techniques used to obtain an accurate measure. The two techniques used in this lab are direct weighing and weighing by difference while using a centigram balance and an electronic balance. The direct weighing method simply requires learning how to read the mass directly from the balance. This procedure is relatively simple but can be deceptive and inaccurate if the centigram balance being used has not been properly zeroed. The weighing by difference method, on the other hand, eliminates offset errors by requiring one to record the mass of an object in a container, record the mass of that container only, and then calculate the mass of the object by subtracting the mass of the container from the mass of the object in the container. This can be done using a centigram balance which allows for a two-decimal place precision or the electronic balance allows for a three-decimal place precision. What equations will you use? MATERIALS Copper Slug Cu Beaker, 100 ml Two Centigram Balances Unknown Mass #1 - Fe Electronic Balance Pan

METHOD Part One: Using a Centigram Balance a) Weighing a Copper slug:

Direct Weighing: Obtain a centigram balance from the Balances option under the Equipment menu and select Zero Balance under the Option menu to ensure accuracy. Select the centigram balance and add one Copper slug from the Chemicals dialog box. Record the slug mass in the Observations. Then, weigh the same slug directly on another centigram balance. Obtain a second centigram balance from the Balances option under the Equipment menu and place it under the first centigram balance such that the pans line up under each other ensure balance is properly zeroed. Select the centigram balance with the Copper slug and choose Pour/Decant from the Procedures menu. Record the mass of the slug. Weighing by Difference: Weigh the same Copper slug by difference . Determine the mass of an empty 100-ml beaker by obtaining a 100-ml beaker and placing it on the pan of the empty centigram balance. Record the mass of the beaker. Move the beaker below the pan of the centigram balance that contains the slug. Select the centigram balance and choose Pour/Decant from the Procedures menu and place the beaker with the slug on the pan of the centigram balance used to weigh the beaker. Record the mass of the beaker and slug. Calculate and record the mass of the slug. Then, use the other centigram balance to determine the slug mass by difference. To store the slug, remove the beaker with slug and position it over the pan of the same centigram balance, select the beaker and choose Pour/Decant from the Procedures menu. Place the empty beaker on the pan of the other centigram balance and record the mass of the beaker. Move the beaker below the pan of the centigram balance that contains the slug. Select the centigram balance and choose Pour/Decant from the Procedures menu. Place the beaker with the slug on the pan of the centigram balance just used to weigh the beaker. Record the mass of the beaker and slug. Calculate and record the mass of the slug. Move the beaker and slug to the side for use with the electronic balance. b) Weighing an Unknown Mass #1 Fe Direct Weighing: Select a centigram balance and add the unknown mass #1 Fe from the Chemicals dialog box. Record the identification number. Record the mass of the unknown by direct weighing. Weighing by Difference: Determine the mass of an empty 100-ml beaker by obtaining a 100-ml beaker and placing it on the pan of the empty centigram balance. Record the mass of the beaker. Move the beaker below the pan of the centigram balance that contains the mass. Select the centigram balance and choose Pour/Decant from the Procedures menu. Place the beaker with the mass on the pan of the centigram balance used to weigh the beaker. Record the mass of the beaker and the unknown. Calculate and record the mass of the unknown. Delete one of centigram balances and move the beaker with the unknown mass to the side for use with the electronic balance. Part Two: Using an Electronic Balance a) Weighing a Copper slug:

Direct Weighing: Select the beaker with the slug and choose Transfer to New Container from the Procedures menu. Select an electronic or high sensitivity balance from the Transfer Contents dialog box. Record the mass of the slug using the number of figures justified by the sensitivity of the balance. Weighing by Difference: Select the balance with the slug and choose Transfer to New Container from the Procedures menu. Select a 100-ml beaker from the Transfer Contents dialog box. Select the beaker with the slug and place it on the balance. Record the mass of the beaker and the slug. Remove the beaker from the balance. Select the beaker and choose Empty from the Procedures menu. Place the empty beaker on the balance. Record the mass of the beaker. Calculate and record the mass of the slug. b) Weighing an Unknown Mass #1 Fe Direct Weighing: Select the beaker with the unknown mass # 1 - Fe and choose Transfer to New Container from the Procedures menu. Select an electronic or high sensitivity balance from the Transfer Contents dialog box. Record the mass of the unknown using the number of figures justified by the sensitivity of the balance. Weighing by Difference: Select the balance with the unknown mass # 1 - Fe and choose Transfer to New Container from the Procedures menu. Select a 100-ml beaker from the Transfer Contents dialog box. Select the beaker with the mass and place it on the balance. Record the mass of the unknown and the beaker. Remove the beaker from the balance. Select the beaker and choose Empty from the Procedures menu. Place the empty beaker on the balance. Record the mass of the beaker. Calculate and record the mass of the unknown mass # 1 - Fe. Part Three: The Average Mass of a Copper Slug with an Electronic Balance Obtain an electronic balance from the Equipment menu or use one already available. Select the balance and add a slug from the Chemicals dialog box. Record the slug mass using the number of figures justified by the sensitivity of the balance. Select the balance and add a second slug from the Chemicals dialog box. Record the mass of the two slugs. Select the balance and add a third slug from the Chemicals dialog box. Record the mass of the three slugs. Select the balance and add a fourth slug from the Chemicals dialog box. Record the mass of the four slugs. Select the balance and add a fifth slug from the Chemicals dialog box. Record the mass of the five slugs. Calculate and record the average mass of the slugs. Part Four: Weighing Solid Chemicals with Centigram Balance and Electronic Balance Centigram Balance: Obtain a watch glass from the Equipment menu. Select the watch glass and add sodium chloride (NaCl) in the range of 1.0 to 1.2g from the Chemicals dialog box. Place the watch glass on a centigram balance. Record the mass of watch glass and sample. Remove the watch glass from

the centigram balance. Select the watch glass and choose Empty from the Procedures menu. Place the watch glass on the centigram balance. Record the mass of the watch glass. Calculate and record the mass of the sample by difference. Electronic Balance: Obtain a watch glass from the Equipment menu. Select the watch glass and add sodium chloride (NaCl) in the range of 1.0 to 1.2g from the Chemicals dialog box. Place the watch glass on an electronic balance. Record the mass of watch glass and sample. Remove the watch glass from the balance. Select the watch glass and choose Empty from the Procedures menu. Place the empty watch glass on the balance. Record the mass of the watch glass. Calculate and record the mass of the sample by difference. DATA

Table of mass recordings. All masses in grams, g. Direct Weighing on Centigram Balance
Weight of slug Balance 1 2.57g Balance 2 2.98g
Unkn Fe #__1__, Balance #_1

Weight of Fe unkn

24.02g

Weighing by Difference on Centigram Balance

Balance 1 100 mL Beaker & slug 52.98g 100 mL Beaker 49.80g Weight of slug 3.18g Balance 2 52.93g 50.00g 2.93g
Unkn Fe #__1_, Balance #_2_

100 mL Beaker & Fe 100 mL Beaker Weight of Fe unkn

74.82g 50.00g 24.82g

Direct Weighing on Electronic Balance

Weight of slug 3.041g Weight of Fe unkn. 25.167g

Weighing by Difference on Electronic Balance

100 mL Beaker & slug 53.041g 100 mL Beaker 50.000g Weight of slug 3.041g 100 mL Beaker & Fe 100 mL Beaker Weight of Fe unkn 75.167g 50.000g 25.167g

Average Mass on Electronic balance

Slug (1 slug) Slug (2 slugs) Slug (3 slugs) 3.034g 6.028g 9.004g

Slug (4 slugs) Slug (5 slugs) Average wt of slugs

11.996g 14.991g 2.998g

Solid Weighing Balance Type

Weight of watch glass and NaCl Weight of watch glass Weight of NaCl

Centigram
11.00g 10.00g 1.00g

Electronic
11.000g 10.000g 1.000g

RESULTS

Figure 1. Centigram Balance (left) and Electronic Balance (right) The weight of Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe) obtained by direct weighing and weighing by difference were different in both centigram balances. The electronic balance, on the other hand, displayed the same weight for both direct weighing and weighing by difference. The average mass of the Cu slug, obtained from the electronic balance by dividing the total weight of the five samples of the slug by five, provides yet a different number. Interestingly, the weight of the NaCl (salt) remained the same when weighed on either balance. Focus on the data, not on a calculation, in this case the average. In this case you could have compared numbers. What can you say about the precision and accuracy? ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION Centigram Balances have two-decimal places precision. Direct weighing and weighing by difference of both Cu and Fe in centigram balances provide different results and is susceptible to off-set errors if the balance is not properly zeroed.

Electronic Balances have three-decimal places precision and therefore allow for more precise measurement of the weight of a chemical. These balances also reduce the risk of off-set errors and provide a much more accurate measurement of the mass in both the direct weighing and weighing by difference methods. Using the electronic balance to obtain the average mass of the Cu slugs allows for an even more accurate measurement of its mass. The solid weighing of salt in this experiment showed no differences between the centigram and the electronic balances. Not quite sure why. Where are your calculations? CONCLUSION The purpose of this lab was to explore the different methods and instruments used to obtain the mass of a chemical. The two methods used were the direct weighing and the weighing by difference using a centigram balance and an electronic balance. The end result of this experiment was the fact that electronic balances provide more precise and accurate measurements of the mass of chemicals because they have three-decimal places precision and reduce and/or eliminate off-set errors, such as when the user fails to properly zero the balance. You need to include the results in the conclusion discussion in the next reports. REFERENCES Ebbing Gammon. (2011).General Chemistry Enhanced Edition, 9th Edition. Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Model Science Software Product, Model ChemLab, vs 2.5, Blance Lab OBSERVATION SHEET The Centigram Balance:
Direct Weighing Mass of slug on a centigram balance using the direct-weighing technique: __2.57 g____ Mass of the same slug directly on another centigram balance: _2.98 g_____ Weighing by Difference Weigh the same slug by difference: Mass of the beaker: ___49.8 g___ Mass of the beaker and slug: __52.98 g____ Calculated mass of the slug by difference: __3.18 g____

Use the other centigram balance to determine the slug mass by difference: Mass of the beaker: __50 g____ Mass of the beaker and slug: ___52.93 g___ Calculated mass of the slug by difference: __2.93 g____ Weigh an unknown mass on a centigram balance using the direct-weighing technique: Unknown mass ID#: __Unknown Weight # 1 - fe___ Mass of the unknown: __24.02 g____ Weigh the same mass by difference: Mass of the beaker: __50 g____ Mass of the beaker and the unknown: _74.82 g_____ Calculated mass of the unknown by difference: __24.82 g_

The Electronic Balance:

Mass of the Slug by Direct Weighing and by Difference 1. Direct weighing: Mass of slug: _3.041 g_____ By Difference: Mass of the beaker and slug: __53.041 g____ Mass of the beaker: __50.000 g____ Calculated mass of the slug by difference: __3.041 g____ Mass of the Unknown by Direct Weighing and by Difference Direct weighing: Mass of the unknown: __25.167 g____ By Difference: Mass of the beaker and the unknown: _75.167 g_____ Mass of the beaker: _50.000 g_____ Calculated mass of the unknown by difference: _25.167 g_

The Average Mass of a Copper Slug with an Electronic Balance

Mass of one slug: __3.034 g____ Mass of two slugs: _6.028 g_____ Mass of three slugs: _9.004 g_____ Mass of four slugs: _11.996 g_____ Mass of five slugs: _14.991 g_____ Average mass of slugs: _2.998 g_____

Weighing Solid Chemicals with Centigram Balance and Electronic Balance

With Centigram Balance: Mass of the watch glass and the sample: _11 g_____ Mass of the watch class: __10 g____ Calculated mass of the sample by difference: __1 g____ With Electronic Balance: Mass of the watch glass and the sample: _11.000 g_____ Mass of the watch class: _10.000 g_____ Calculated mass of the sample by difference: _1.000 g____

Section

1 Title page 2 Title 3 Intro/purpose 4 Materials 5. Method 5 Data 6 Results (graph/figures) 34 No calculations 7 Disc/analysis 12 8 Conclusion 5 9 References 3 10 Print out 93 Total Do not forget to include the concentration of solutions when appropriate in your next reports and your starting material data in the data table. Model Science with the correct version will always be a reference. It is your lab manual. Good job. Make sure you continue to say something about the meaning of the data in the Results section. The data showed what? And, make sure you say something about the meaning of the information from your calculations in the Analysis and Discussion section. The calculations showed what? And do not forget the summary/statement of results in the conclusion section.

Max Points 1 2 5 2 5 5 20 40 12 5 3

Earned Comments points 1 2 5 2 5 5 19