Determining the Molar Mass of an Unidentified Volatile Liquid Essay Example
Determining the Molar Mass of an Unidentified Volatile Liquid
Abstract
Molar mass helps to determine how much of a substance is present in a sample. Volatile liquids change from liquid to gas at relatively low temperatures and atmospheric pressures. In this investigation an unknown volatile liquid is vaporized so that the ideal gas law can be used to determine its molar mass. This study will apply the ideal gas law in tandem with the concept of volatile liquids and basic molar mass related stoichiometry to identify the molar mass of an unknown liquid. A small sample of the unknown liquid was but into Erlenmeyer flask and vaporized in a water bath. Measurements of mass, pressure, temperature and volume were taken in order to calculate a molar mass of 78.09 gmol-1 . Calculated results from other groups who followed the same procedure included 78.61 gmol-1 and 91.06 gmol-1. A large variety of systematic and random errors in conjunction with confounding variables may have caused inaccuracies in the results therefore they are rejected as invalid. Further studies might investigate the how to determine the molar mass of volatile solids or may investigate other ways of applying the ideal gas law.
Introduction
When considering the amount of substance weight and volume are methods of measurement that cannot be trusted. Different substances can have very different densities, which greatly affect how much space they can occupy and how heavy they are. To avoid confusion the mole (mol) unit of measurement was introduced and with it the concept of molar mass. One mole of a substance has 6.022 x 1023 particles of the substance and has a mass equal to its molar mass given in grams per mol. Every element has a unique molar mass, which when added together can create the molar mass of different compounds. When presented with an unknown substance molar mass can also help to identify it. (Neus, 2007)
A volatile liquid is one that is easily vaporized, that is to say to change from
Abstract
Molar mass helps to determine how much of a substance is present in a sample. Volatile liquids change from liquid to gas at relatively low temperatures and atmospheric pressures. In this investigation an unknown volatile liquid is vaporized so that the ideal gas law can be used to determine its molar mass. This study will apply the ideal gas law in tandem with the concept of volatile liquids and basic molar mass related stoichiometry to identify the molar mass of an unknown liquid. A small sample of the unknown liquid was but into Erlenmeyer flask and vaporized in a water bath. Measurements of mass, pressure, temperature and volume were taken in order to calculate a molar mass of 78.09 gmol-1 . Calculated results from other groups who followed the same procedure included 78.61 gmol-1 and 91.06 gmol-1. A large variety of systematic and random errors in conjunction with confounding variables may have caused inaccuracies in the results therefore they are rejected as invalid. Further studies might investigate the how to determine the molar mass of volatile solids or may investigate other ways of applying the ideal gas law.
Introduction
When considering the amount of substance weight and volume are methods of measurement that cannot be trusted. Different substances can have very different densities, which greatly affect how much space they can occupy and how heavy they are. To avoid confusion the mole (mol) unit of measurement was introduced and with it the concept of molar mass. One mole of a substance has 6.022 x 1023 particles of the substance and has a mass equal to its molar mass given in grams per mol. Every element has a unique molar mass, which when added together can create the molar mass of different compounds. When presented with an unknown substance molar mass can also help to identify it. (Neus, 2007)
A volatile liquid is one that is easily vaporized, that is to say to change from