Calvin Hinken, 11/20/14
Measuring the Width of a Molecule
#5.1
Objective: To determine the width of a molecule
Procedure: A large bowl was filled with cool water approximately 1 cm from the rim and placed on a table. 6.0 mL of Dial dishwashing soap was measured in a graduated cylinder. Water was added to the cylinder until there was 100.0 mL of solution making as few bubbles as possible. This mixture was then poured into a beaker. 100.0 mL of water was then added to the cylinder, not rinsing the soap out and added to the beaker. This was done until a total of 400.0 mL of the solution was in the beaker. The graduated cylinder was then cleaned and dried. The eyedropper was used to transfer 10.0 mL of the diluted soap solution from the beaker and into the graduated cylinder, drop by drop. The number of drops needed to full the cylinder to the 10.0 mL mark was counted and recorded. The volume of each drop was then measured by dividing 10.0 mL by the number of drops used. When the water in the bowl was calm, pepper was sprinkled on to the surface of the water until it covered the whole surface. One single drop of the soap water solution was dropped onto the surface of the water. Observations were then made and recorded. The diameter of the circle that formed was measured with a ruler and recorded.
Results: Number of drops used to fill cylinder to 10.0 mL: 467 drops Diameter of the circle of pepper: 10.9 cm When the soap and water solution was dropped
