Lab 12 Determination of the Empirical Formula of Silver Oxide

Honors Chemistry
Background
The composition of a chemical compoundwhat it is made ofcan be described in at
least three different ways. The percent composition fixes the percent by mass of each
element in the compound and is the simplest way experimentally to describe the
composition of a substance. Calcium carbonate, for example, contains calcium,
carbon and oxygen. It is present in eggshells and seashells, chalk, and limestone.
The mass percentage is 40 % calcium, 12% carbon, and 48% oxygen.
However, in terms of understanding how elements come together to make a new
compound, it is more interesting and more informative to know how many atoms of
each kind of element combine with one another. The empirical formula describes the
composition of a compound in terms of the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a
compound and does not necessarily represent the actual number of atoms in a
molecule for formula unit.
The molecular formula of a compound tells us the actual number of atoms in a single
molecule of a compound.
Experimental Overview
In this experiment, the percent composition and empirical formula of silver oxide will
be determined. Silver oxide decomposes to silver metal and oxygen when strongly
heated. Heating silver oxide causes the oxygen to be driven off, leaving only the
silver metal behind. According to the law of conservation of mass, the total mass of
the products of a chemical reaction must equal the mass of the reactants. In the case
of the decomposition of silver oxide, the following equation must be true:
Mass of silver oxide = Mass of silver metal + Mass of oxygen
If both the initial mass of silver oxide and the final mass of the silver metal are
measured, the decrease in mass must correspond to the mass of oxygen that
combined with the silver. The percent composition and empirical formula of silver
oxide can then be calculated, based on combining the ratios of silver and oxygen in
the reaction.
PreLab Questions
Unbalanced equation:

Fe(s) + O2(g )

Fe2O3(s)

1. Balance the above equation

2. Use 0.055 g iron to covert the mass of iron used to moles. Use factor label.
3. Calculate the mass of oxygen that reacted with the iron.
4. Use the molar mass of oxygen to convert the mass of oxygen, O2, reacted to
moles. Use factor label.

5. Use the moles of O2 and calculate the moles of O. (1mole O2 = 2 moles of O)

6. Use the ration between the number of moles of iron and number of moles of
oxygen, O not O2) to calculate the empirical formula for iron oxide. (Show your
work). Remember that fractions of moles of atoms do not exist; therefore the ratio
should be simplified by multiplying all of the moles by a constant to give a whole
number ratio. Example: HO1/2, multiple by moles by 2 to achieve whole numbers
H2O.
Materials
Silver oxide samples, ~0.5 g
Crucible and crucible lid, 15
or 30 mL
Crucible tongs
Bunsen burner
Ring stand and ring clamp

Balance (0.001 gram

precision)
Clay pipestem triangle
Ceramic plate
Wash bottle and water
Watch glass (optional)

Safety Precautions
Silver oxide is slightly toxic. Handle the crucible and lid only with tongs. Remember
that a hot crucible looks exactly like a cold one. Wear chemical goggles and gloves.
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before leaving the laboratory.
Procedure
1. Set up a Terrill burner nest to the white hoods, on a ring stand beneath a ring
clamp holding a clay triangle. Do not light the Terrill burner.
2. Adjust the height of the ring clamp so that the bottom of the crucible sitting in the

clay triangle is about 1 cm above the burner. This will ensure that the crucible will
be in the hottest part of the flame when the Terrill burner is lit.
3. Measure the mass of a clean, empty crucible to the nearest 0.001 gram. Record

the mass in the data table.

4. Add approximately 0.5 grams (see visual example, do not mass) of silver oxide

sample to the crucible. Measure the combined mass of the crucible and silver
oxide to the nearest 0.001 gram. Record the mass in the data table.
5. Place the crucible on the clay triangle. Light the Terrill burner and slowly heat the

crucible by brushing the bottom of the crucible with the flame for 2-3 minutes.

6. Place the burner on the ring stand and

gently

heat the crucible for an

additional 10 minutes. Heating the crucible gently as in steps 5 and 6 will avoid
splattering the sample.

7. After 10 minutes of gently heating the sample, place the burner directly under the

crucible. Heat the crucible with the most intense part of the flame for 10 minutes.
Caution: do not inhale the smoke. Do not lean over the crucible.
8. After 10 minutes of intense heating turn off the gas source.
9. Allow the crucible to cool for at least 10 minutes.
10. Measure the combined mass of the crucible and the silver metal product. Record

the mass in the data table.

11. If time permits dump the entire contents of the crucible onto a watch glass and

note the appearance of the product. Is any un-reacted silver oxide still present?
Record all observations in the data table.
12. Dispose of cooled sample in the trash can
13. Repeat steps 1-12 for trials # 2 and # 3

Data and Calculations Tables

Data Table
Trial #1
Mass Crucible
(g)
Mass Crucible +
Silver oxide (g)

Trial #2

Mass of Silver
oxide (g)
Mass of crucible
and silver (g)
after heating
Mass of silver
(g)
Moles of silver
Mass of oxygen
(g)
Moles of oxygen
Appearance of
Product

Post Lab Calculations complete questions 1-9 for each trail

1. Show your calculations to determine the mass of silver oxide that was used, the mass of
silver after heating and the mass of oxygen produced. Enter you answers into the Data
Table.
2. Calculate the percent composition of silver in the silver oxide. Show your work.
3. Calculate the percent composition of oxygen in the silver oxide, Show your work.
4. Use factor label to convert grams of silver to moles of silver.
5. Use factor label to convert grams of oxygen to moles of oxygen.
6. Calculate the empirical formula for silver oxide based on your lab data. Show your work.
7. Calculate the percent composition of silver in one mole of silver oxide using your empirical
formula. This is the

theoretical percent composition.

8. Calculate the percent composition of silver in your silver oxide compound. (Mass silver /
Mass silver oxide times 100%). This is your
composition.

experimental percent

9. Calculate your percent error: [ ITheor Exper.I / Theor ] ] x 100% Show your work.
10.Discuss two possible sources of error. Example: What did you do specifically that could
have altered the result? Calculating errors, human error and incorrect mass measurement
are NOT considered sources of errors.

Discuss error sources such as:

o Fingerprints on crucible at initial weighing.
o Small amount of silver oxide remaining.
o Crucible no at constant weight before starting the experiment.

Determination of the Empirical Formula of Silver Oxide

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1 pt Rubric included with lab

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5 pts Neat, answers include question

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8 pts Lab physically completed within one week of assigned time.

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2pts Lab Set Up: Lab is written on the right side of the composition book only. Lab is
included in the table of contents

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2pts Pre-Lab 1: Clearly labeled conversion for iron from grams to moles. Answer provided
with the correct number of significant figures, units and species.

_____

2pts: Pre-Lab 2: Clearly labeled calculation to determine the mass of oxygen. Answer
provided with the correct number of significant figures, units and species.

_____

2pts Pre-Lab3: Clearly labeled conversion for oxygen from moles to grams. Answer
provided with the correct number of significant figures, units and species.

_____

3pts Pre-Lab4: Clearly labeled calculations to show the determination of the empirical
formula of iron oxide.

_____

5pts Data Table 1: completely filled out with calculations to determine the mass of sliver
oxide that was used, the mass of silver after heating and the mass of oxygen produced.

_____

2pts Post-Lab 2: Clearly labeled calculations showing the percentage of silver in the
compound. Answer is recorded in Data Table .

_____

2pts Post-Lab 3: Clearly labeled calculations showing the percentage of oxygen in the
compound. Answer is recorded in Data Table .

_____

2pts Post-Lab 4: Clearly labeled conversion of grams of silver to moles. Answer provided
with the correct number of significant figures, units and species. Answer is recorded in
Data Table 2.

_____
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2pts Post-Lab 5: Clearly labeled calculation to show the conversion of grams of oxygen to
moles of oxygen. Answers are recorded in Data Table.
3pts Post-Lab6: Calculate the empirical formula for silver oxide based on your lab data.
Show your work.

_____

3pts Post-Lab7. Calculate the percent composition of silver in one mole of silver oxide
using your empirical formula. This is the theoretical percent composition.

_____

3pts Post-Lab8: Calculate the percent composition of silver in your silver oxide
compound. (Mass silver / Mass silver oxide times 100%). This is your experimental
percent composition

_____
2pts Post-Lab9: Calculate your percent error: [ ITheor Exper.I / TheorI ] x 100% Show
your work.
_____

2pts Post-Lab10 Discuss two possible sources of error. Example: What did you do
specifically that could have altered the result? Calculating errors, human error and
incorrect mass measurement are NOT considered sources of errors.