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    Experimental Determination of Avogadro

    Uploaded by

    Fahmi Haqqi
    This document describes an experimental method for determining Avogadro's number electrochemically. The experiment involves using electrolysis to oxidize copper atoms from a copper anode and measuring the current over time. By relating the number of copper atoms oxidized, based on the mass lost from the anode, to the number of electrons transferred during electrolysis as measured by current over time, Avogadro's number can be calculated experimentally. The document provides details on the materials needed, procedures for cleaning and weighing the copper anode before and after electrolysis, and taking current measurements during electrolysis to enable calculating Avogadro's number.

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    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Experimental Determination of Avogadro

    Uploaded by

    Fahmi Haqqi
    76 views3 pages
    This document describes an experimental method for determining Avogadro's number electrochemically. The experiment involves using electrolysis to oxidize copper atoms from a copper anode and measuring the current over time. By relating the number of copper atoms oxidized, based on the mass lost from the anode, to the number of electrons transferred during electrolysis as measured by current over time, Avogadro's number can be calculated experimentally. The document provides details on the materials needed, procedures for cleaning and weighing the copper anode before and after electrolysis, and taking current measurements during electrolysis to enable calculating Avogadro's number.

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    This document describes an experimental method for determining Avogadro's number electrochemically. The experiment involves using electrolysis to oxidize copper atoms from a copper anode and measuring the current over time. By relating the number of copper atoms oxidized, based on the mass lost from the anode, to the number of electrons transferred during electrolysis as measured by current over time, Avogadro's number can be calculated experimentally. The document provides details on the materials needed, procedures for cleaning and weighing the copper anode before and after electrolysis, and taking current measurements during electrolysis to enable calculating Avogadro's number.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    76 views3 pages

    Experimental Determination of Avogadro

    Uploaded by

    Fahmi Haqqi
    This document describes an experimental method for determining Avogadro's number electrochemically. The experiment involves using electrolysis to oxidize copper atoms from a copper anode and measuring the current over time. By relating the number of copper atoms oxidized, based on the mass lost from the anode, to the number of electrons transferred during electrolysis as measured by current over time, Avogadro's number can be calculated experimentally. The document provides details on the materials needed, procedures for cleaning and weighing the copper anode before and after electrolysis, and taking current measurements during electrolysis to enable calculating Avogadro's number.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    of 3

    Experimental Determination of

    Avogadro's Number
    From Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.,
    Your Guide to Chemistry.
    FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

    Electrochemical Method
    Avogadro's number isn't a mathematically derived unit. The number of particles in a mole
    of a material is determined experimentally. This method uses electrochemistry to make
    the determination. You may wish to review the working of electrochemical cells before
    attempting this experiment.

    Purpose

    The objective is to make an experimental measurement of Avogadro's number.

    Introduction

    A mole can be defined as the gram formula mass of a substance or the atomic mass of an
    element in grams. In this experiment, electron flow (amperage or current) and time are
    measured in order to obtain the number of electrons passing through the electrochemical
    cell. The number of atoms in a weighed sample is related to electron flow to calculate
    Avogadro's number.

    In this electrolytic cell both electrodes are copper and the electrolyte is 0.5 M H2SO4.

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    During electrolysis, the copper electrode (anode) connected to the positive pin of the
    power supply loses mass as the copper atoms are converted to copper ions. The loss of
    mass may be visible as pitting of the surface of the metal electrode. Also, the copper ions
    pass into the water solution and tint it blue. At the other electrode (cathode), hydrogen
    gas is liberated at the surface through the reduction of hydrogen ions in the aqueous
    sulfuric acid solution. The reaction is:
    2 H+(aq) + 2 electrons -> H2(g)
    This experiment is based on the mass loss of the copper anode, but it is also possible to
    collect the hydrogen gas that is evolved and use it to calculate Avogadro's number.

    Materials

    • Direct current source (battery or power supply)


    • Insulated wires and possibly alligator clips to connect the cells
    • 2 Electrodes (e.g., strips of copper, nickel, zinc, or iron)
    • 250-ml beaker of 0.5 M H2SO4 (sulfuric acid)
    • Water
    • Alcohol (e.g., methanol or isopropyl alcohol)
    • Small beaker of 6 M HNO3 (nitric acid)
    • Ammeter or multimeter
    • Stopwatch
    • Analytical balance capable of measuring to nearest 0.0001 gram

    Procedure

    Obtain two copper electrodes. Clean the electrode to be used as the anode by immersing
    it in 6 M HNO3 in a fume hood for 2-3 seconds. Remove the electrode promptly or the
    acid will destroy it. Do not touch the electrode with your fingers. Rinse the electrode with
    clean tap water. Next, dip the electrode into a beaker of alcohol. Place the electrode onto
    a paper towel. When the electrode is dry, weigh it on an analytical balance to the nearest
    0.0001 gram.

    The apparatus looks superficially like this diagram of an electrolytic cell except that you
    are using two beakers connected by an ammeter rather than having the electrodes
    together in a solution. Take beaker with 0.5 M H2SO4 (corrosive!) and place an electrode
    in each beaker. Before making any connections be sure the power supply is off and
    unplugged (or connect the battery last). The power supply is connected to the ammeter in
    series with the electrodes. The positive pole of the power supply is connected to the
    anode. The negative pin of the ammeter is connected to the anode (or place the pin in the
    solution if you are concerned about the change in mass from an alligator clip scratching
    the copper). The cathode is connected to the positive pin of the ammeter. Finally, the
    cathode of the electrolytic cell is connected to the negative post of the battery or power
    supply. Remember, the mass of the anode will begin to change as soon as you turn the
    power on, so have your stopwatch ready!

    You need accurate current and time measurements. The amperage should be recorded at
    one minute (60 sec) intervals. Be aware that the amperage may vary over the course of
    the experiment due to changes in the electrolyte solution, temperature, and position of the
    electrodes. The amperage used in the calculation should be an average of all readings.
    Allow the current to flow for a minimum of 1020 seconds (17.00 minutes). Measure the
    time to the nearest second or fraction of a second. After 1020 seconds (or longer) turn off
    the power supply record the last amperage value and the time.

    Now you retrieve the anode from the cell, dry it as before by immersing it in alcohol and
    allowing it to dry on a paper towel, and weigh it. If you wipe the anode you will remove
    copper from the surface and invalidate your work!

    If you can, repeat the experiment using the same electrodes.

    Continue on to the next page for a Sample Calculation of Avogadro's number.

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