ChE 124: Experiment 6 Results and Discussion

Delos Santos, Ong, Somera

DATA SHEET
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
For the results of the experiment, a few parameters were determined using the data
collected from the experiment. From the volumetric flask data, the corresponding moles of both
methanol and water were calculated. This was done by subtracting the weight of the flask to the
weight of the flask plus methanol for the weight of the methanol. The weight of water was
calculated by subtracting the weight of the flask with methanol with the weight of the flask and
both the liquids. Using the molar weights, the moles of each component were calculated.
The volume of the pycnometer was also calculated by using mixture A. the weight of the
pycnometer was subtracted to the weight of the pycnometer with water to get the weight then
effectively the volume of water, which is equal to the volume of the pycnometer. The volume of
the pycnometer is 25.4361 mL. This was used to calculate the densities of the mixtures. For the
calculation of the partial molar volumes, the formula is

Figure 1. ​Partial Molar Volume Formula of Component A [4]

​

Where V​2​ and V​1​ were calculated by dividing the molar weight of the solution (per 1 mol
of the component B) by the given density of the component in question. The partial molar
volumes of both the methanol and water were calculated to be:

Figure 2. ​Experimental Partial Molar Volumes

These are the partial molar volumes of methanol and water for mixtures B to F, with an
average value of 39.231 cm​3​/mol for methanol and 17.695 cm​3​/mol for water. Compared to the
theoretical value of the partial molar volumes for methanol and water (40.75 cm​3​/mol and 18.07
cm​3​/mol respectively), the experimental values are close, with a percent error of 3.727% and
2.074%, respectively . A plot of molar volume vs. mole fraction of methanol was also generated.
 Figure 3. ​Plot of Molar Volume vs. Methanol Mol Fraction

From the graph, it can be observed that as the mole fraction of methanol increases, its
molar volume. This graph also demonstrates that the partial molar volume of methanol
increases as the mole fraction of methanol increases. By looking at the trend line formed in the
data series of methanol, the slope of a tangent line to the curve is positively increasing as mol
fraction of methanol increases. So if we take the intercepts of that tangent line at mol fraction of
methanol equal to 0 and 1, we can get the partial molar fraction both water and methanol
respectively.
GUIDE QUESTIONS

How is the volume of the pycnometer determined? How will the wet bulb temperature
data be used in accomplishing this?

The volume of the pycnometer is determined by first weighing the dry empty pycnometer. It is
then filled with a fluid, usually water, with a known standard density and then the filled
pycnometer is weighed. Subtracting the weight of the dry empty pycnometer will give the weight
of the fluid. By multiplying that weight to the reciprocal of the density of the fluid will give the
volume of the fluid and essentially the volume of the pycnometer. The wet bulb temperature
data is important in the density of water. Water density is highly sensitive to changes in
temperature. The wet bulb temperature essentially shows how saturated the atmospheric air is,
and how easily water can become water vapor. When water evaporates, this will mean that it
absorbed heat from the surroundings, essentially lowering the temperature of its surroundings.
In the case of liquid water, this will mean that the change in temperature will mean changes in
density. Thus, accounting for this change will be important in the pycnometer volume
determination.​[1]

What is the significance of partial molar properties?

Partial molar properties help us determine the effect or contribution of a component in a

mixture, to the property in question. In the case of the experiment, we are able to see the effect
of adding I mol of ethanol to the volume of the solution since unlike mass, we do not observe an
increase of x volume in the mixture when we add x volume of ethanol.​[2]

What are the sources of error in the experiment?

There are multiple sources of error when performing the experiment that we
experienced. One very important source of error in the data is temperature changes that happen
in the filled pycnometers. As explained in guide question number 1, the density of water is highly
sensitive to temperature, which is why the methodology of the experiment gives precautions
when it comes to handling the filled pycnometer to make sure that temperature changes can be
avoided as much as possible. Causes for temperature change that we encountered were (1) the
wind blowing into the room from an open door, (2) non-optimal way of handling the pycnometer,
(3) placing the pycnometer in the tabletop while waiting to be weighed. (1) can cause the
temperature of the fluid in the pycnometer to go down as the wind may cause cooling effects.
(2) occurred when accidental touches to the body of the pycnometer were made when pulling
them out of the water bath to dry before weighing. This could impart heat from the hands
causing temperature changes in the fluid. (3) the same principle with (2), the tabletop can impart
heat to the pycnometer causing temperature changes in in the fluid [3]​ ​. It should also be noted
that there was no air drying done during the experiment, every mixture was subjected to a water
bath, since cooling via air would have taken a very long time.
RECOMMENDATIONS

We recommend that the experimenters must be very careful in handling the pycnometer.
This is due to the reasons stated on the effects of temperature on the density of water. We also
recommend that if there is an ample amount of time, each pycnometer’s volume must be
determined by first filling it up with water. This is to make sure that all calculations will be as
accurate as it can be.

CONCLUSION

We therefore conclude that knowing the partial molar properties of mixture is very
important because knowing about it has a lot of advantages in real world problems. One of the
uses of knowing the partial molar volume of a mixture is that we get to find out the actual
change in volume when we add a certain amount of substance. One application for this is the
calculation of ABV or the alcohol by volume content of alcoholic drinks​[4]​. With knowledge of
partial volumes, we know that adding x volume of alcohol to y volume of water does not yield
(x+y) volume. This is important in the reporting of alcoholic content of beverages.

SOURCES:

[1] ​All about pycnometers and accurate practical ABV​. (2019, March 10). Boston Apothecary.
https://www.bostonapothecary.com/all-about-pycnometers-and-practical-accurate-abv/

[2] ​Science Direct. (n.d.). ​Wet-Bulb Temperature.​ ScienceDirect.com | Science, Health and
Medical Journals, Full Text Articles and Books.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/ wet-bulb-temperature

[3] ​Cohen, E. R., Cvitas, T., Frey, J. G., Holström, B., Kuchitsu, K., Marquardt, R., Mills, I.,
Pavese, F., Quack, M., Stohner, J., Strauss, H. L., Takami, M., & Thor, A. J. (2007). ​Quantities,
units and symbols in physical chemistry​ (2nd ed.). Royal Society of Chemistry.

[4] ​Stetson University. (n.d.). ​Partial Molar Volume.​ Stetson University.

https://www2.stetson.edu/ ~wgrubbs/datadriven/fchen/bartender/partialmolarvolumechen.html
CALCULATIONS