Research question
How does the concentration of sodium carbonate affect the rate of its reaction with chloric acid?
Background information
The rate of a reaction does not stay the same. There are many factors that may affect how fast substances react. For example, surface area, concentration and temperature of reactants can affect the rate. However, sometimes it is hard to tell the specific rate because no phenomena can be observed. When sodium carbonate is reacting with an acid, one of the products is carbon dioxide gas. From the bubbles produced in the solution, it is much easier to find out how the rate of reaction changes as the concentration changes.
Chemical equation involved
Na2CO3 + 2HCl → 2NaCl…show more content… Therefore, the reaction between sodium carbonate and chloric acid would be faster.
Variables
Independent variable
The concentration of sodium carbonate solution (g/mL) because the rate of reaction can be affected by concentration.
Dependent variable
The rate of reaction (gram/second), the rate can be calculated using the mass of carbon dioxide (g) divided by the time of reaction (s).
Controlled variables
The volume of sodium carbonate solution (mL) for each trial and group, the volume of chloric acid for each trial (mL), the concentration of chloric acid (%), 10% chloric acid will be used so that there will always be enough acid to react with sodium carbonate.
Materials
750mL distilled water
45g sodium carbonate powder
A stir stick
750mL 10% chloric acid
A scale
A stopwatch
A 100mL graduated…show more content… Put the graduated cylinder on the scale and zero the scale, measure out 50mL 10% chloric acid, read and record the mass of the acid, then take the cylinder off the scale.
5. Zero the scale and then put the beaker with sodium carbonate solution on the top, read and record the mass. Add the value to the mass of chloric acid to get an initial mass.
6. Start timing using the stopwatch as soon as the chloric acid is added into the beaker.
7. Do not stop timing until no more bubbles are produced, which means all sodium carbonate in the beaker is used up during the reaction.
8. Record the time spent to react as well as the mass of carbon dioxide produced. The mass of the gas can be found when the initial mass is subtracted by the final mass.
9. Divide the mass by the time and the result is the rate of reaction when the concentration is 1g/50mL, or 0.02g/mL.
10. Repeat steps 2 to 9 twice as the second and third trials for the first experimental group.
11. Dissolve 2g, 3g, 4g, and 5g sodium carbonate solid in 50mL water for the rest four experimental groups, and repeat steps 4 to 9 three times for each group.
12. There will be extra acid remains in the beaker because the sodium carbonate is the limiting reagent, therefore, the mixture is acidic. Disposal of all acid into the acid
