Calculating The Density Of Carbon Dioxide At Room Temperature

By, Natalie Youssef Introduction: To develop laboratory techniques and critical thinking through the process of determining the density of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound. Carbon dioxide is produced by several mechanisms. Naturally, plants and algae using photosynthesis produce it. Carbon dioxide is produced by respiration of all living organisms, the combustion of coal or hydrocarbons, and the fermentations of sugar made in beer or winemaking. The density of carbon dioxide is 1.977 g/L. Density is an intensive property. This means that no matter how much of mass or amount of material the density will still remain the same. Methods: While performing this lab we followed the following safety procedures including: wearing safety goggles to prevent any chemicals from getting in our eyes, we wore long sleeve and long pants clothing and close toe shoes in order to prevent chemical burns on our skin, and we wore latex gloves while dealing with chemicals to prevent any harm to our skin. In order to determine the density of carbon dioxide in the experiment, we calculated the mass and volume. We adhered to the formula Density = mass/volume. In order to calculate the density, we determined the volume of the 100 mL graduated cylinder that would collect the carbon dioxide gas. In order to do this we placed the 100 mL cylinder into a large beaker upside down with 600 mL of water. Inside the graduated cylinder was a rubber tube that connected to a stopper in the 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask. We placed the effervescent tablet into water in the Erlenmeyer flask and prevented the gas from escaping by putting a stopper on it immediately after it was placed in contact with the water in order to trap the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide gas escaped the 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask and traveled through the plastic tubing into the 100 mL cylinder capturing the carbon dioxide within the 100 mL cylinder. Then we determined the volume of the gas by measuring the level of water in the cylinder before and after the gas was in the cylinder and calculated the difference. Since we were dealing with a pressured situation, we used the Ideal Gas Law equation: PV=nRT to find the volume at normal room temperature with the volume of the Carbon Dioxide from the pressured situation. Before the carbon dioxide was in the 100 mL cylinder we measured the amount of water in the cylinder. After the carbon dioxide traveled through the tube and into the graduated cylinder we calculated the difference by measuring the amount of water in the cylinder again. Next we had to weigh the cylinder with the carbon dioxide. In order to do this we slowly pulled up the cylinder to the tip of the water so that no gas could escape. Using plastic wrap we lifted the cylinder just

enough so that we could slide our hand under it with the saran wrap and trap the carbon dioxide. After that we weighed the cylinder with the gas. Figure 1: Calculating the Volume of Carbon Dioxide

cylinder with Carbon Dioxide

cylinder without carbon dioxide

Volume

In order to find the mass of the carbon dioxide we aired out the cylinder and weighed the cylinder and saran wrap again without the gas inside. Then we found the difference of the mass of the cylinder with the carbon dioxide inside and the cylinder without the gas. Figure 2: Calculating the Mass of Carbon Dioxide

Mass of cylinder with carbon dioxide (g)

Mass of cylinder without carbon dioxide (g)

Mass (g)

Lastly, we used the formula (Density= Mass/Volume) to determine the density of carbon dioxide.

Figure 3:

In Figure 1 demonstrated above, we created carbon dioxide gas by combining effervescent tablets and water to allow it to flow into the 100 mL cylinder from plastic tubing connecting to the 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask. Results: In our experiment we used a large beaker, a 100 mL cylinder, approximately 18 inches of plastic tubing, a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask, and a rubber stopper in order to calculate the density of carbon dioxide. After the carbon dioxide traveled through the tube and into the graduated cylinder we calculated the difference by measuring the amount of water in the cylinder again. After taking our original calculation and finding the difference of the measurement after the gas was in the cylinder we found the volume that was 5 mL. Next we weighed the cylinder with the gas. After weighing it we got a mass of 41.899 grams. After weighing the cylinder without the carbon dioxide we got 40.7 grams. We found a difference by subtracting the weight of mass without the gas in the cylinder by the weight of the gas in the cylinder: 41.899 grams - 40.7 grams = 1.199 grams Before the carbon dioxide was in the 100 mL cylinder we measured the amount of water in the cylinder. We measured that there was 80 mL of water in the cylinder before the carbon dioxide traveled in. After taking our original calculation and finding the difference of the measurement after the gas was in the cylinder we found the volume. Since our experiment was a pressurized situation I used the Ideal Gas Law to find that the room pressure volume was 7.5 mL. Shown below is how I used the Ideal Gas Law to find the volume: PV= nRT

I used this equation to solve for the volume for room pressure. To do this I assumed that the pressure and volumes stayed at a constant value. I estimated the 100 mL graduated cylinders full value was 120 mL. This changed the equation to be: 1 atm * 120 mL =120 atm.mL We measured 80 mL of air in the cylinder before the carbon dioxide traveled in Next, I plugged in 80 mL for my second volume after I pressurized it and the pressure changed to 1.5 atm. This changed my equation to be: 1.5 atm * 80 mL = 120 atm.mL After taking my original volume from the pressured situation I plugged it in for my pressurized volume and solved. This changed my equation to be: 1.5 atm * 5 mL = 7.5 atm.mL Then I released the pressure to capture the gas inside the cylinder. This changed my pressure to 1 atm. This changed my equation to be: 1 atm * volume = 7.5 atm.mL This gave me the final volume at a normal room temperature. My volume was 7.5 mL. Given that the volume is 7.5 mL and the mass is 1.99 g we found the density using the equation: Mass/ Volume = Density According to the data, carbon dioxides density is: 1.99 g/ 7.5 mL = 0.265 g/mL The true density with constant variables is .0019 g/mL. Results From Carbon Dioxide Experiment Trial Mass (g) Volume(mL) Density(g/mL) 1 1.199 7.5 0.265 Percent Error:
|

98.8485 % error = |

| .1598g/ mL

Honors Extension: The goal of this assignment was to design an experiment that would allow me to test whether the gas produced was carbon dioxide. Procedure: To prove that the density of carbon dioxide was created in the experiment written out above. Methods: 1. First determine the volume of the 100 mL graduated cylinder that would collect the carbon dioxide gas. In order to do this we placed a100 mL cylinder full of water into a large beaker upside down with 600 mL of water. 2. Connect rubber tube from the cylinder to a stopper in the 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask. 3. Measure the volume of the gas by placing the effervescent tablet into water in the 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask and prevent the gas from escaping by putting a stopper on it immediately after. This should create the carbon dioxide gas to escape the flask and travel through the rubber tubing into the 100 mL cylinder that would trap the gas. 4. Then determine the volume by measuring the level of air in the cylinder before the gas was in the cylinder and then again after to get the difference. 5. Light candle in a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask. 6. Stick hand with saran wrap under water to trap carbon dioxide from getting out and slowly lift the cylinder out of the large beaker. 7. Tilt the cylinder towards the candle and take off the saran wrap so that the carbon dioxide will travel in the Erlenmeyer flask causing the candle to die out. This experiment would prove that the gas created in this experiment was carbon dioxide because the candle died out. Carbon dioxide will cause the flame to die out, whereas air wont. Our calculation of volume measurement was our error in our experiment that caused the result to be more than ten powers away from the theoretical values. In our experiment, we had a limited time and only were only able to perform one trial. During this trial we had some inaccuracies in obtaining accurate volume of the carbon dioxide. After slowly pulling up the cylinder to the tip of the water so that no gas could escape while using saran wrap, there was a possibility that we could have gotten some water in the cylinder or let some gas escape. Even though we lifted the cylinder just enough so that we could slide our hand under it with the saran wrap and trap the carbon dioxide, we noticed little droplets in the cylinder. After weighing the cylinder with the gas we realized that the smallest amount of water consumed could have really affected the result of the volume. Since the density of water is 1 g/cc and the density of Carbon dioxide is .0019 g/mL one drop of water would have affected the volume significantly. Since density is mass/volume

the density of carbon dioxide would be affected since we had inaccuracies while calculating the volume.