CHM130

Lab 7
Determining the Formula of a Compound
Name:

Karlee M. Rose

A. Data Table (show completed data table here) (12 points)

Measurements
Mass of empty 100 mL beaker
Mass of zinc metal
Mass of beaker containing zinc
chloride

Mass (in grams)

55.45g
1.80g
58.16g

B. Follow-Up Questions (Show all work for calculations.)

1. Calculate the mass of zinc chloride produced. You know the original
mass of the beaker. You also know the mass of the beaker plus the
product you produced, which is zinc chloride. The difference
between these two masses is the mass of zinc chlorine produced.
Subtract the original mass of the beaker from the mass of the
beaker plus the zinc chloride produced. Show your work. (20
points)
Formula:
(mass beaker + zinc chloride) - mass of beaker = mass of
zinc chloride produced
58.16-55.45=2.17g- mass of zinc chloride produced.
2. Calculate mass of chlorine reacted. To do this, you know that the
zinc and the hydrochloric acid combined to create zinc chloride. You
know the mass of zinc used, and the mass of zinc chloride
produced; so, the difference (subtract) between these values is the
mass of chlorine reacted. (20 points)
Formula:
Mass of zinc chloride produced - mass of zinc used = mass
of chloride reacted.
2.17g-1.80g=0.37g- mass of chloride reacted.
3. Calculate moles of zinc based on original mass of zinc. Show your
calculations. (20 points)
Formula:

Mass Zn used x 1 mol Zn = moles of Zn used

Molar mass of Zn
1.80g Zn x 1 mole Zn/ 65.39g Zn= 0.0275 mole Zn used
4. Calculate moles of chlorine reacted based on your answer for #2.
Show your work. (20 points)
Formula:
Mass Cl used x 1 mol Cl = moles of Cl used
Molar mass of Cl
0.37g Cl x 1mol Cl/35.45g Cl= 0.0104 moles of Cl used.
5. What is the experimental empirical formula of zinc chloride?
Determine the simplest whole number ratio of moles of zinc used,
to moles of chlorine reacted in the zinc chloride that was produced.
(Take your answers to #4 and #5, and divide both values by
whatever value is smaller.) (20 points)
Zn= 0.0275/0.0104 = 2.644
Cl= 0.0104/0.0104 = 1
=ZnCl3
6. Determine the actual empirical formula of zinc chloride, based on
the ionic charges of zinc and chloride ions, using your rules for
ionic nomenclature. (20 points)
Zinc= 1.80 g
1.80g Zinc x 1mole zinc/ 65.39g= 0.0275mol zinc.
Chloride= 0.37g
0.37gx1mole chloride/ 35.45g chloride= 1.04mol chloride
Zinc=0.0275/0.0275= 1
Chloride= 1.04/0.0275= 3.78 or 4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------The charge of Zinc (Zn) is +2 ,and the charge of chlorine (Cl) is -1, so
we take the charge of zinc and put it at the number of atoms of
Chlorine(Cl), same we do with the charge of chlorine.
Zn has ionic charges +2 with Cl -1
=ZnCl2
7. Does your experimental empirical formula (answer to #5) agree
with the known empirical formula (answer to #6) of zinc chloride?

List and describe some sources of error that may have affected
your results. (20 points)
My experimental empirical formula doesnt agree with the known
empirical formula. For my answer to question number 5, the
chloride had 3 while zinc had 1. On number 6, zinc still had one but
chloride had 4. The only factor of error I can think of is that the ions
weren't considered in the original formula. I keep thinking that
there must be a simple error (such as the mass Zn or mass
chlorine) because it is not usual to come up with a 1:3 ratio when
the actual ratio is 1:2.
8. Is zinc chloride an ionic compound or a molecular compound?
Explain. (8 points)
Zinc chloride is an ionic compound. This is because it contains both
a metal, zinc ion and a nonmetal, chloride ion. Molecular
compounds, also known as covalent compounds, contain only
nonmetals.
9. List at least three reasons why this lab could not be completed in
the home lab environment. (8 points)
The reason this lab couldnt be performed in a home lab environment
is because the lack of instruments; a scale to measuring the exact
weight of materials. The lack of elements needed, due to fact that
some elements are harmful. And the lack of equipment needed to
perform the steps of the lab.
10. In another experiment, a lab student analyzes a sample of a
compound containing 49.5 grams carbon, 5.15 grams hydrogen,
28.9 grams nitrogen, and 16.5 grams oxygen by mass.
a. What is the empirical formula for this compound? (20
points)
Carbon: 49.5gx 1mol Carbon/12.01g=4.12molC
Hydrogen: 5.15gx1molH/1g= 5.15molH
Nitrogen:28.9gx1molN/14g= 2.10molN
Oxygen:16.5gx1molO/16g=1.03molO
Carbon: 4.12/1.03=4
Hydrogen: 5.15/ 1.03=5
Nitrogen: 2.10/1.03=2
Oxygen: 1.03/1.03=1
=C4H5N2O

b. If the molecular mass for the compound is 195 g/mol,

what is the molecular formula for this compound? (12
points)
(4x12+5+28+16) n = 97
195/97=2
=C8H10N4O2