Vishvin Ramesh
Vanessa Gonzalez, Kasandra Altman, Nayana Joseph, Patrick Sullivan
Limiting Reactant
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the limiting reactant in a mixture of 2 salts.
Unknown Salt: Jets
Key Result: The limiting reactant for Jets was K2C2O4
Calculations:
Mass of salt (Jets): 0.504 grams
Water: 50 mL
Discussion:
This lab explored the analysis of a salt mixture to help understand how precipitates form
and how limiting reactants work. One concept seen in the lab, was the idea of stoichiometry,
which uses the relationship between the reactants and products in a chemical reaction. Testing
the excess of Ca²⁺ ions as well the C₂O₄²⁻ ions, determined the limiting reactants.
Stoichiometry was used to understand which reactants were in excess in the reaction. Another
concept explored in the lab, was the law of conservation of mass, which states that mass can
neither be created nor destroyed. The law is observed in the molecular equation, CaCl2 •
2H2O(aq) + K2C2O4 • H2O(aq) —› CaC2O4 • H2O(s) + 2 KCl(aq) + 2H2O(l), when the the
mass of the products equals the mass of the reactants. Though the forms changed, such as the
precipitate forming, no mass was ever lost. The law is also important when looking at the
accuracy of the calculations taken, as it ensures the equations are balanced and correct.
The beginning of the procedure incorporated heating up 50 mL of water along with the
unknown “Jets” salt. The water was heated in order to ensure the solubility of the salt, in order
for the precipitate to occur. During the experiment, a gravitation filter was set up in order to filter
out the solid salt which didn’t dissolve. Gravity filtration is a method used to separate the solids
from a liquid, through the use of a filter paper used in a funnel. The liquid passes through the
filter paper due to gravity, leaving the solid residue behind.
One of the final parts of the lab included setting the two vials, one with 4 drops of CaCl2
and one with 4 drops of K2C2O4, in a centrifuge. The centrifuge is a machine which spins the vials
rapidly, allowing the centrifugal forces to bring the higher density particles to the bottom of the
vial, separating the solids and liquid.
The net ionic equation is a simple form of the ionic equation, which only shows the ions
present in the precipitate reaction. In the equation, the spectator ions K+ and Cl- are not included.
The limiting reactant lab demonstrated how stoichiometry and the law of conservation of mass
can be used in precipitate reactions.
Conclusion:
The objective of the Limiting reactant lab was to determine the limiting reactant in a
mixture of 2 soluble salts. The vial with 4 drops of K2C2O4, was the limiting reactant. Potential
sources of error for this lab included incomplete mixing of the salt and water, controlling the
temperature of water, certain impurities in the water and salt and incomplete filtration. During
the experiment, incorrect stirring of the solution can result in the reactants not being distributed
evenly, this would result in certain ares with higher concentrations of the salt, and certain areas
with lower concentrations. The temperature of water aids in the solubility of the salt in water.
Improper temperatures could have resulted in a slower rate of reaction, which could have
resulted in an incomplete precipitate forming. When the salt and water are mixed, impurities
such as contaminants from human hands, could have affected the reactions. The way to eliminate
this error would be to wear gloves in order to reduce the amount of contaminants being
introduced into the reaction. The filtration portion of the lab separated the solid salt which hadn’t
dissolved, from the liquid. Incomplete filtration can result in incorrect recorded mass of the
precipitate. In order to minimize this error, the right filtration paper should be used, without any
gaps between it and the funnel, which would allow for proper filtration.
