University of South Carolina

CHEM 141 Fall 2021

Name(s):______________________________________________________________________

Section:__________________________

Laboratory 2 (Chemical Reactions)

Table 1: Materials
Solid sodium hydrogen carbonate Analytical balance Evaporating dish
Solid sodium carbonate monohydrate Watch glass
Hydrochloric acid (6M) Stand and ring clamp
Wire gauze
Pasteur pipette
Beaker
Bunsen burner

SAFETY
Be especially careful when handling the 6 M HCl (aq), as it can cause chemical burns to the skin.
If any acid spills on you, rinse immediately under running water for up to 15 minutes and report
the accident to your instructor. Acid spills may also be neutralized using the sodium hydrogen
carbonate solution by the sinks. Also, be sure to exercise appropriate caution when using the
Bunsen burner and handling hot equipment.

Objectives:
1. To experimentally determine the mole-to-mole ratios between the underlined reactants and
products in the following two double displacement “gas forming” reactions:

sodium hydrogen carbonate+hydrochloric acid⟶sodium chloride+carbon dioxide+water

sodium carbonate+hydrochloric acid⟶sodium chloride+carbon dioxide+water

2. Calculate a theoretical yield given a balanced chemical equation and specified amounts of
reactants.
3. Determine the percentage yield from experimental data and a calculated theoretical yield.
4. Predict the effect of experimental errors on the percentage yield.

References: Adapted from LibreTexts, Santa Monica College, Experiment 7,

https://chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary_Materials/Laboratory_Experiments/Wet_Lab_Experiments/
General_Chemistry_Labs/Online_Chemistry_Lab_Manual/Chem_10_Experiments/07%3A_Mol
e_Ratios_and_Reaction_Stoichiometry_(Experiment), (Online: Accessed 6/26/2019).

Introduction

Sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) or sodium bicarbonate, is a crystalline chemical

compound commonly known as baking soda that can be produced industrially. Sodium hydrogen
carbonate is also used to create sodium carbonate (Na2CO3). Both have a variety of uses.

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University of South Carolina
CHEM 141 Fall 2021
Sodium hydrogen carbonate finds use in fire extinguishers, toothpaste and medicine as an antacid
to treat indigestion and heartburn. It can also absorb odors, which finds use when people leave
open boxes of baking soda in their refrigerators. Heating sodium hydrogen carbonate will
produce sodium carbonate as well as carbon dioxide. Sodium carbonate is a strong base and finds
use in laundry detergent to prevent the ions in hard water from staining clothing. Sodium
carbonate can also be found in soap, paper and glass.

The easiest way to obtain the mole-to-mole ratios for the reaction between sodium hydrogen
carbonate and hydrochloric acid or sodium carbonate and hydrochloric acid would be to simply
balance the chemical equations for these reactions. This would be considered a theoretical
approach to the problem. The balanced equations for reactions and are:

NaHCO3 (s) + HCl (aq) ⟶ NaCl (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l) (1)

Na2CO3 (s) + 2 HCl (aq) ⟶ 2 NaCl (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l) (2)

In the reaction 1, the balancing coefficients indicate that there is a 1:1 mole ratio between
reactant and product. This means that for every 1 mole of sodium hydrogen carbonate that reacts,
1 mole of sodium chloride should be produced. However, in reaction 2, the balancing
coefficients indicate that there is a 1:2 mole ratio between reactant and product. In this case, for
every 1mole of sodium carbonate that reacts, 2 moles of sodium chloride should be produced.
To determine these mole-to-mole ratios experimentally, a quantitative analysis of both reactions
is required. Specifically, a pre-weighed mass of sodium hydrogen carbonate/carbonate will be
allowed to react with a slight excess of hydrochloric acid. The sodium chloride product will then
be carefully retrieved, dried and weighed at the end of the reaction. This mass of collected
sodium chloride is called an experimental yield. Both the mass of sodium hydrogen
carbonate/carbonate reactant used and the mass of sodium chloride product can be converted to
mole quantities via their respective molar masses. Finally, dividing both the reactant and product
moles by the lower of the two values should yield the simplest whole number mole-to-mole ratio
of reactant and product.

While an experimental product yield is obtained by actually performing a reaction in lab, a

theoretical yield is the maximum mass of product that could be obtained from a reaction
provided that no errors occur. Theoretical product yields can only be determined by performing a
series of stoichiometric calculations. Thus, using this method, theoretical yields of sodium
chloride will be calculated for reactions 1 and 2. Once obtained, the percent yield of sodium
chloride can be determined for both reactions, where:

𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌
𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌 = × 100% (3)
𝑇𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌𝑌

Good experimental practices in the lab (with minimum error) generally result in a high percent
yield, where the experimental yield closely approaches the theoretical yield.

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University of South Carolina
CHEM 141 Fall 2021
Experimental Procedure

1. Measure and record the mass of your clean dry evaporating dish + watch glass (assembled
together with the watch glass acting as a cover on top of the evaporating dish).
2. Carefully add 0.3 – 0.4 g of solid sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) to the evaporating
dish. Do not do this over the balance! Then measure and record the mass of the evaporating
dish + watch glass + NaHCO3.
3. Obtain about a 5-mL quantity of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in your small beaker. Then using
your Pasteur pipette, add the drop by drop to the sodium hydrogen carbonate in the
evaporating dish. The reaction will be evident by the bubbling that takes place. Gently mix
the reactants after every 4 – 5 drops of HCl. Continue adding until the bubbling stops and all
the NaHCO3 is dissolved – this indicates that the reaction is complete.
4. Assemble the stand, ring clamp and wire gauze apparatus for heating as shown in the figure
below. Cover the evaporating dish with the watch glass and place it on the wire gauze.

5. Gently heat the solution in the covered evaporating dish with a Bunsen burner flame in order
to remove the water generated in the reaction (as well as any excess present). The flame
should be adjusted to a lower temperature and wafted under the evaporating dish constantly.
Continue heating until the contents are completely dry. Note that the watch glass cover
should also be dry!
6. After allowing the evaporating dish to cool to room temperature, measure and record the
mass of the evaporating dish + watch glass + residue (NaCl).
7. Repeat steps 1 to 6 with a 0.3 – 0.4 g sample of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3). Make sure that
you do not wet rinse the evaporating dish between the two runs. Just wipe them out to avoid
adding water weight.
8. All waste from this experiment will be collected in the hood.

Analysis and Report:

1. Experimental Mole-to-Mole Ratios – Convert the initial mass of sodium hydrogen carbonate
(or carbonate) reactant to moles (via its molar mass). In a similar manner, convert the final
mass of collected sodium chloride product to moles (via its molar mass). Finally, obtain the
simplest whole number mole-to-mole ratio by dividing both the reactant and product moles

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University of South Carolina
CHEM 141 Fall 2021
by the lower of the two values.
2. Percent Yields – Calculate the theoretical yield of NaCl for both reactions 1 and 2 via
standard mass-to-mass stoichiometry. Use your masses of sodium hydrogen
carbonate/carbonate reactants weighed out in lab as the starting point and the mole ratios
from the balanced equations for these calculations. Then determine your percent yield for
each reaction using the calculated theoretical yields along with your experimental yields of
NaCl, obtained in lab. See the Theory Section for the equation, if necessary.

Data Analysis

1. Use your data to determine the experimental mole-to-mole ratio between sodium hydrogen
carbonate and sodium chloride. Show your work for each step.
2. Convert the mass of sodium hydrogen carbonate used to moles.
3. Convert the mass of sodium chloride collected to moles.
4. Divide both of your results from the preceding two steps by the lower mole value to
determine the simplest mole-to-mole ratio between sodium hydrogen carbonate and sodium
chloride.
5. Simplest mole ratio before rounding:
__________________moles NaHCO3: __________________moles NaCl
6. Simplest whole number mole ratio after rounding:
__________________moles NaHCO3: __________________moles NaCl
7. Determine your percent yield of sodium chloride in reaction 1. Show your work for each
step.
8. Write the balanced equation for reaction 1 – the reaction between sodium hydrogen
carbonate and hydrochloric acid.
9. Using mass-to-mass stoichiometry, calculate the theoretical yield of for reaction 1. Use your
initial mass of sodium hydrogen carbonate reactant as a starting point, along with the relevant
mole ratio from the balanced equation to perform this calculation.
10. Calculate your percent yield of sodium chloride product.
11. Based on your observations, comment on what experimental errors could influence the
percentage yield.

1. Use your data to determine the experimental mole-to-mole ratio between sodium carbonate
and sodium chloride. Show your work for each step.
2. Convert the mass of sodium carbonate used to moles.
3. Convert the mass of sodium chloride collected to moles.
4. Divide both of your results from the preceding two steps by the lower mole value to
determine the simplest mole-to-mole ratio between sodium carbonate and sodium chloride.
5. Simplest mole ratio before rounding:
__________________moles Na2CO3: __________________moles NaCl
6. Simplest whole number mole ratio after rounding:
__________________moles Na2CO3: __________________moles NaCl
7. Determine your percent yield of sodium chloride in reaction 1. Show your work for each
step.
8. Write the balanced equation for reaction 1 – the reaction between sodium carbonate and
hydrochloric acid.

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University of South Carolina
CHEM 141 Fall 2021
9. Using mass-to-mass stoichiometry, calculate the theoretical yield of for reaction 1. Use your
initial mass of sodium carbonate reactant as a starting point, along with the relevant mole
ratio from the balanced equation to perform this calculation.
10. Calculate your percent yield of sodium chloride product.
11. Based on your observations, comment on what experimental errors could influence the
percentage yield.