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LABORATORY MANUAL
CHEMISTRY I (FGS 0064)
FOUNDATION IN BIOLOGICAL/HEALTH SCIENCE
Experiment

Title

Determination of formula unit for a compound

Acid-base titration

Chemical equilibrium

pH : Measurement and its applications

EXPERIMENT 1
DETERMINATION OF FORMULA UNIT FOR A COMPOUND
Objectives
1. To train students the basic techniques of synthesizing a compound
2. To determine its formula unit

Apparatus

Chemical reagent

Crucible

Zinc powder

Beaker

HCl 6.0 M

Wire gauze
Measuring cylinder
Balance
Method
1. Weigh the crucible and record the exact mass.
2. Place 0.25 g zinc powder into the crucible. Weigh the crucible with its contents
and determine the exact mass of zinc.
3. Carefully add in 10 ml of HCl 6.0 M into the crucible containing the zinc powder
and stir the content gently. A vigorous chemical reaction will occur and hydrogen
gas will be released. (Caution: do not work near a fire source nearby. Wet
hydrogen can cause explosion).
4. If the zinc powder does not dissolve completely, add another 5 ml of HCl 6.0 M.
Continue adding 5 ml HCl 6.0 M until all of the zinc dissolves. (Note: Not all zinc
will dissolve since the zinc used is not pure. The amount of HCl 6.0 M to be used
must not exceed 20 ml).
5. Place the crucible on an electric heater in the fume cupboard and heat the
contents slowly so that the compound will not splatter during heating process.
6. Heat until the compound is completely dry and make sure that the compound
does not melt.
7. Allow the compound in the crucible to cool down to room temperature and weigh
it.
8. Reheat the crucible, let it cool to room temperature and weigh it again. Repeat
this procedure until the difference in mass is not more than 0.02 g.
9. Determine the mass of zinc chloride from the final weight of the sample.
Calculate the mass of chlorine in the zinc chloride.
10. Once the mass of zinc and chloride is obtained, calculate the formula unit of zinc
chloride.
Result
1.

Record all your readings into a table.

ITEM

MASS (g)

Crucible (A)
Crucible + 0.25 g zinc powder
(B)
Zinc powder (B-A)
Crucible + zinc + HCl
(Room temperature)
Crucible + zinc + HCl
(Heat 1)
Crucible + zinc + HCl
(Heat 2)
Crucible + zinc + HCl
(Heat 3)
Crucible + zinc + HCl
(Heat 4, C)
Zinc chloride, (C-A)

2.

Calculate the mass of chlorine

3.

Calculate the formula unit of Zinc Chloride

Discussion / Questions
1.

Write a balanced chemical equation of reaction above and state the theoretical
formula of zinc chloride.

2.

Discuss potential mistakes that might have contributed to the deviation of your
results from the theoretical formula.

3.

One of the reasons that the crucible is not weighed while it is hot because it can
cause damage to the electronic balance. What is the other possible reason?

Conclusion

What did you achieve from this experiment?

EXPERIMENT 2
ACID-BASE TITRATION
Objectives:
1. To prepare a standard solution of hydrochloric acid
2. To familiarize with the techniques of acid-base titration
3. To determine the unknown concentration of acid solutions using the titration
technique

Apparatus

Chemical reagents

Burette

NaOH solution 0.2 M

Conical flask

Concentrated hydrochloric acid

Beaker 100 ml

Phenolphthalein

Weighing bottle

Vinegar

Pipette 10 ml 25 ml
Measuring cylinder 10 to 25 ml
Method
A. Preparation of hydrochloric acid solution
1.

Pipette 20 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid solution into 100 ml

volumetric flask.

2.

Add enough distilled water to bring the solution level even with the etched
line on the neck of the flask.

3.

Stopper the flask and shake it well.

4.

Pipette 20 ml of solution into 2 conical flask and label flask A and flask B.

B. Titration of hydrochloric acid with NaOH

1.

Clean the burette and rinse it with some NaOH 0.2 M solution. Discard the
used solution.

2.

Fill the burette with the NaOH 0.2 M solution and record the initial reading.
Ensure that the burette is full and there are no air bubbles.

3.

Add 3 drops of phenolphthalein to the oxalic acid prepared in part A and

begin titrate it with 0.2 M NaOH.

4.

During titration, swirls the conical flask continuously.

5.

The end point is obtained when a light pink colour appears for 30 seconds.

6.

record the final reading

7.

repeat titration with second sample

8.

The results of these titrations should be calculated immediately. If the

molarities calculated do not complement each other within 0.1 unit, a third
titration should be carried out.

C. Determination of molar concentration of vinegar (CH3COOH)

1.

Pipette 10.0 ml vinegar into two conical flask

2.

Add 50 ml distilled water and 3 drops of phenolphthalein into each sample.

3.

Titrate each sample with 0.2 M NaOH using the same method as in Part B.

Result
1.

Record all your readings into a table.

Method B
Exp 1

Exp 2

Exp 1

Exp 2

Final reading of burette / cm

Initial reading of burette / cm3
Volume of titre / cm3
Method C
Final reading of burette / cm3
Initial reading of burette / cm3
Volume of titre / cm3
2.

Write the chemical reactions of both method B and method C.

3.

Calculate the concentration of hydrochloric acid (method B) and vinegar (method

C) by using acid-base titration formula.

Discussion / Questions
1.

Calculate the molar concentration of concentrated HCl for method A (refer to lab
manual).

2.

Can I titrate a solution of unknown concentration with another solution of

unknown concentration and still get a meaningful answer? Explain your answer
in a few sentences.

Conclusion
What did you achieve from this experiment?

EXPERIMENT 3
CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM
Objectives:
1. To study the effect of concentration and temperature on chemical equilibrium
2. To determine the equilibrium constant
Apparatus

Test tube

Ice bath

Bunsen burner

Pipette

100 ml beaker

100 ml conical flask

10 % NaOH

10 ml measuring cylinder

CoCl2 0.4 M

100 ml measuring cylinder

Fe(NO3)3 0.1M
KSCN 0.1 M

Chemical reagents

Antimony trichloride (0.5 M SbCl 3 in 6.0

Distilled water

M HCl)

HCl 6.0 M
HCl 12 M
A. The effect of concentration in the formation of the thiocynoferrum (III) complex
ion
The thiocynoferrum (III) complex ion is formed when the iron (III) ion, Fe 3+ is added to
the thiocynate ion, SCN. The equation for the reaction is :
Fe3+ (aq) +

SCN- (aq)

Fe(SCN)2+ (aq)

yellowish

blood red

Method
1.

Place 2 ml of 0.1 M iron (III) nitrate and 3 ml of 0.1 M potassium thiocynate

solution in a 100 ml beaker.

2.

Add 50 ml distilled water to reduce the intensity of the dark red colour formed

3.

Place 5 ml of this solution in three separate test tube

(a) Add 1 ml of 0.1 M iron (III) nitrate solution to the first test tube
(b) Add 1 ml of 0.1 M potassium thiocyanate solution to the second test tube
(c) To the third test tube, add 6-8 drops of 10% NaOH.

4.

Record your observations in a suitable table.

Discuss the effect of adding iron (III) nitrate, potassium thiocynate and sodium
hydroxide on the position of the equilibrium above.

B. The effect of temperature

In the aqueous solution, the cobalt (II) ion, Co 2+ exist as a hexaaquocobalt (II)
Co(H2O)62+ complex ion which is pink.

Other cobalt (II) complex ions have

different colours. The position of the equilibrium for the following reaction can be
changed to produce a solution which is either more blue or pink. This is because

the position of the equilibrium depends on the relative concentration of the

chloride ion
Co(H2O)62+ + 4Cl-

CoCl42-

pink

6H2O

blue

Method
1. Measure 10 ml of 0.4 M CoCl2 solution with a measuring cylinder and place it in a
small conical flask.
2. Measure 6 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid and add into the same flask.
3. Shake the flask. A purple solution should form indicating a mixture of pink and
bright blue. If the solution is pink carefully add (drop by drop) some hydrochloric
acid and if it is blue add distilled water until a purple solution is formed.
4. divide the purple solution into three test tubes
(a) leave one test tube at room temperature
(b) place the second test tube in the ice bath
(c) place the third test tube in a water bath of 80 90 oC
5. Note the colour of each solution. Determine whether the change in colour is
reversible.

Result
1.

Record all your observation into the table below.

Method A

Test tube

Test

Observation

Addition of 1 ml of 0.1M iron (ii)

nitrate

Addition of 1 ml of
potassium thiocyantae

Addition of 10% NaOH

0.1M

Method B

test tube

Test

At room temperature

In the ice bath

Water bath (80 90 C)

Observation

Discussion / Questions
1.

Based on Le Chateliers Principle, discuss the equilibrium of experiment A and B.

2.

Based on observation of Method B, identify the type of enthalpy and explain your
answer.

3.

Clarify whether the change of color in Method B is reversible or not reversible.

Explain the phenomena.

Conclusion
What did you achieve from this experiment?

EXPERIMENT 4
pH : MEASUREMENT AND ITS APPLICATIONS
Objectives:
1.

To use various methods of measuring The pH of acids, bases and salts

2.

to determine the dissociation constant of weak acids

Apparatus
Teat tubes
pH meter
Indicators
pH meter

Chemical reagents
NaCl 0.1 M
NH4NO3 0.1 M
CH3COONa 0.1 M
NaOH 0.01 M and 1.0 M
HCl 0.01 M and 1.0 M
Ethanoic acid 1.0 M
Benzoic acid 1.0 M
Oxalic acid 1.0 M

Method

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A. Determination of pH of acidic solutions.

1.

Determine the pH of 0.01 M and 1.0 M of HCl using

i.

pH paper. Refer to the pH colour chart of the pH paper.

ii. pH meter.
2.

Determine the pH of 0.1 M ethanoic acid, benzoic acid and oxalic acid
using
i.

pH paper. Refer to the pH colour chart of the pH paper.

ii. pH meter.
B. Determination of pH of basic solutions.
Determine the pH of 0.01 M and 1.0 M NaOH using
i.

pH paper. Refer to the pH colour chart of the pH paper.

ii. pH meter.

C. Determination of pH of salt solutions

Determine the pH of 0.1 M NaCl, 0.1 M NH4NO3 and 0.1 M CH3COONa using
i.

pH paper. Refer to the pH colour chart of the pH paper.

ii.

pH meter.

Determine whether the salt solutions are acidic, basic or neutral.

Result
1.

Record all your readings into a table.

Method A
Solution

pH paper

0.01 M HCl
1.0 M HCl
1.0 Ethanoic acid
1.0 Benzoic acid
1.0 Oxalic acid

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pH meter

Method B
Solution

pH paper

pH meter

0.01 M NaOH
1.0 M NaOH
Method C

Salts

pH paper

pH meter

Types of salts

0.1 M NaCl
0.1 M NH4NO3
0.1 M
CH3COONa
Discussion / Question
1.

Calculate the theoretical concentration of H+ and the concentration of H+ by using

pH value of the experiment above.

2.

Discuss the potential mistakes that might have contributed to the deviation of
your results from the theoretical concentration.

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4.

Calculate Ka value for each of the weak acid. Arrange the weak acids based on
increasing strength.

5.

Arrange the above salts in order of increasing pH and discuss the trend.

Conclusion
What did you achieve from this experiment?

Chemistry Laboratory Practical Report

For this course, you are required to write up a report of the experiment that you have
conducted for that week. Following is a guide of what is expected in a report for this
subject and some helpful hints on writing a good report.

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1.

Experiment Title
Start each report by putting the title at the top of the page

2.

Objectives
Sentences on exactly what you were hoping to achieve during the experiment.

3.

Apparatus & Chemicals

Separate the apparatus and chemicals used into two different smaller sections.
Bullet points can be used here.

4.

Procedure
Write down the step that you have performed for that particular experiment in
passive voice and in sentences NOT bullet points.

5.

Results
Write down all raw data and observations. Data should be in tables whenever
possible. Hints have been included in each experiment on what to include in this
section.

6.

Discussion / Questions
Hints have been included in each experiment on what to include in this section.

7.

Conclusion
What did gain from the performing of experiment? For experiment with
unknowns, identify the unknowns.

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