Name: Choo Jia Le (5)

Class: 6.10 Gethsemane

Chemistry Investigation 29
To establish the percentage of copper by mass in a given sample of
copper salt

Data Collection and Processing

Mass of the Weighing Bottle (0.001g)
Mass of the Weighing Bottle with copper
salt (0.001g)
Mass of copper salt used (0.002g)
Readings
Initial Burette
Reading (0.05)/
cm3
Final Burette
Reading (0.05)/
cm3
Volume of KMnO4
titrated (0.10)/
cm3
Results Accepted
()

3.460
9.461
6.001

0.10

0.00

0.00

0.10

19.10

18.75

18.80

18.80

19.10

18.75

18.80

18.70

Observation: The aqueous copper (II) solution is clear blue solution.

Upon adding aqueous Na2CO3 solution, blue precipitate is observed.
Upon the addition of aqueous CH3COOH solution, the blue
precipitate dissolves to give a clear blue solution. Upon the addition
of aqueous KI, the blue solution turns clowdy dark brown. Upon the
addition of starch solution, the solution turns black-brownish. The
black-brownish colour slowly fades off upon the addition of S2O3-,
leading to a cloudy white solution at end point as the white
precipitate of Cu2I2 is revealed.
Calculations
N a2 S 2 O3
Volume of
used

18.75+18.80+18.70
3

N a2 S 2 O 3

18.75 c m3

Moles of

Error Propagation
Abs Uncertainty
0.10+0.10+0.10

used

0.10 c m

Abs Uncertainty

Page 1 of 5

Name: Choo Jia Le (5)

Class: 6.10 Gethsemane

0.100

18.75
1000

0.10
0.100
1000

0.000010mol

0.001875 mol
Cu2 I 2+ I 2(1)
2++ 4 I
2C u
2(2)

+ S 4 O6

2 2 I
I 2+ 2 S2 O3
equation ( 1 )( 2 ) ,
2=1 :1
2+ :S 2 O 3
C u

Moles of

Calculations
2+

used
Cu

Error Propagation
Abs Uncertainty
0.000010

0.001875 mol
2+
Mole of C u

0.001875

in
250
20

250 c m3

flask

0.0234375

Abs Uncertainty
250
0.000010
20
0.0002 mol(1 s . f .)

0.0234 mol

2+
Mass of C u in
0.0234 63.55

250 c m3 flask

Abs Uncertainty
0.000263.55

0.008 g

1.48794

1.488 g

Percentage of Copper by mass

1.488

100
24.796
24.8
6.001

Percentage Uncertainty
0.008 0.002
100
+
1.488 6.001

0.57
Abs Uncertainty
Page 2 of 5

Name: Choo Jia Le (5)

Class: 6.10 Gethsemane

0.57
24.8
100

0.2 (1 s . f .)

Percentage by mass of copper the given copper salt =( 24.8 0.2 )

Conclusion and Evaluation

The percentage by mass of copper in the given copper salt is

( 24.8 0.2 ) .

Since the given copper salt solution is blue colour, there are a few possible
copper salts that can be considered. The following table shows some
Copper salts and their respective percentage by mass of copper in the
compound:
Percentage by mass of copper/
%
25.4
CuSO4.5H2O
26.3
Cu(NO3)2.3H2O
37.3
CuCl2.2H2O
The exact identity of the copper salt cannot be identified based on the
experimental results due to the uncertainty of the apparatus and errors
present in the experiment. However, the copper salt that is more likely to
be used in this experiment can be narrowed down to Copper (II) Sulfate
and Copper (II) Nitrate as they are relatively close to the experimental
results.
Copper salt

Taking CuSO4.5H2O as the likely identity of the copper salt used,

Theoretical percentage of Copper by mass

63.55
100
63.55+32.07 + ( 16.01 4 )+ 5(1.01 2+16.01)

63.55
100
2 49.81

25.4

The percentage error of the final value obtained will be determined

by the following equation:

|24.825. 4|

Percentage Error=

25.4

100

3.0

Page 3 of 5

Name: Choo Jia Le (5)

Class: 6.10 Gethsemane

The percentage error is lower than 5% hence it shows that there is a

moderate degree of experimental error. The data obtained is fairly
accurate.
The percentage uncertainty in the experimental value
Percentage uncertainty=

0.2
100 =0.8 ( 1 s . f . )
24.8

The percentage uncertainty in the experimental value is low as the

value is much lower than 5%, hence indicating the low instrumental
uncertainty in the experiment. The value obtained is highly precise.
There are a few errors in the experiment. Firstly, in the procedure, it
is stated that the liberated iodine is titrated against the 0.100 mol
dm-3 of sodium thiosulfate (VI) using starch solution as indicator.
However, it is not stated in the procedure that starch is not to be
added into the solution at the beginning of the titration. If the starch
solution is added to the concentrated iodine solution, it will form
insoluble starch-iodine complex which may prevent some of the
iodine reacting with the titrant. The amount of sodium thiosulfate
(VI) solution needed will be lesser than theoretical value, hence
resulting in a lower percentage by mass of copper value. To reduce
this systematic error, the fresh run of experiment can be run
without adding starch solution as indicator. The amount of sodium
thiosulfate (VI) can be recorded at the end point. From there, we can
roughly gauge the amount of sodium thiosulfate (VI) is needed to
I
reduce 2 in the solution, hence the subsequent experiments can
add starch solution just before the end point to minimise the
problem arise due to the insolubility of starch-iodine complex.
Secondly, potassium iodide is a light sensitive compound and
exposure to light and moisture can accelerate the decomposition of
this compound. In the procedure, there is no proper method stated
to prevent or dampen the rate of decomposition of potassium
iodide, hence the concentration of the potassium iodide used in the
experiment might be lower than the concentration stated. The
aqueous potassium iodide can turn yellow when exposed to air for
long period of time due to the liberation of iodine. This might lead to
the percentage by mass of copper value lower than theoretical
answer. To reduce this random error, a black plastic wrapper can
be used to cover up the apparatus containing potassium iodide
solution to reduce the rate of decomposition of potassium iodide
due to light exposure.
Page 4 of 5

Name: Choo Jia Le (5)

Class: 6.10 Gethsemane

Thirdly, the end point of titration is not very apparent as it is not a

drastic change in colour (eg red to colourless). The solution will
remain cloudy white at the end point, hence it is quite difficult to
determine the end point of the experiment. Due to the ineffective
observation of the titration endpoint, extra of less sodium
thiosulfate (VI) solution might be added, leading to random error in
the experiment. To reduce this random error, an endpoint sample
can be kept after the first titration to be used as sample. This
sample can be used to be compared with the subsequent titrated
solutions; hence there will not be too much variation in the result
obtained.

Page 5 of 5