EXPERIMENT 3: DETERMINATION OF THE MOLAR MASS OF A METAL

Title : Determination of the molar mass of a metal.

Objective :
1. To standardize the hydrochloric acid solution.
2. To determine the molar mass of an alkaline earth metal by back-
titration method.
Introduction :
A reactive metal, for example an alkaline earth metal, would readily react
with a strong acid such as hydrochloric acid. The general reaction
between a metal, M and an aqueous hydrochloric acid, HCl is as follows :
M + 2HCI → MCl2 + H2
The molar mass of M can be determined by a back-titration. A back
titration is a two-stage analytical technique. The first stage involves the
reaction of a metal with an excess amount of acid of a known
concentration. In the second stage, the unreacted acid is titrated with a
standardized base solution to determine the amount of the remaining
excess reactant.
In this experiment, the concentration of the acid is initially determined by
the normal titration before the reaction with metal M is carried out. M
reacts completely according to stoichiometric equation and if the amount
of acid used exceeds the amount of metal in terms of equivalence, then
the resulting solution would be acidic.
The excess acid can be determined by performing back-titration with
sodium hydroxide solution. The amount in moles of the reacted metal is
determined by comparing the moles of acid before and after the reaction.
Apparatus :
- Scissors, White tile, Pipette filler, Filter funnel, Retort stand,50 mL
beaker,50 mL burette,25 mL pipette 25 mL, Analytical balance,250
mL conical flask, Abrasive cloth no.3 (36), Aluminum oxide
Chemical Reagent :
- Distilled water, Phenolphthalein, Dilute hydrochloric acid, HCl, 0.1
M Sodium hydroxide, NaOH, An unknown alkaline earth metal, M

Procedure :
(A) Standardization HCL solution
1. A clean burette is rinsed with 0.1 M NaOH.
2. The burette is filled with 0.1 M NaOH solution.
3. The initial burette reading is recorded to two decimal places.
4. 25 mL HCl solution is pipetted into a 250 mL conical flask. 2 drops of
phenolphthalein are added to the acid.
5. A piece of white tile is placed underneath the flask.
6. The acid is titrated with the NaOH solution. The flask is swirled
continuously.
7. Upon reaching the end point, a temporary pink solution will appear but
the colour will fade when it is swirled. Continue titrating until the pale pink
colour persists for more than 30 seconds. This is the end point.
8. The final reading of the burette is recorded
9. The titration is repeated three times.
10. The concentration of the HCI solution is calculated.

(B) Determination if the molar mass of a metal

1. 25 mL of HCl solution is pipetted into 2 separate conical flasks.
2. Two pieces of metal M, each of approximately 4 cm long, is cleaned with
a piece of abrasive cloth.
3. The mass of each sample is weighed accurately.
4. Each sample is cut into smaller pieces.
5. The samples is placed separately into the HCl solution. The solution is
swirled occasionally until the metal is completely dissolved.
6. 2 drops of phenolphthalein is added.
7. The initial burette reading is recorded.
8. The unreacted HCl is titrated with the NaOH solution.
9. The final burette reading is recorded.
10. Titration is repeated with the other sample.

Result :
1. Titration of standard HCl solution

Concentration of NaOH = 0.1 M

Volume of HCl = 25 mL

Burette
Gross 1 2 3
reading / mL
Final reading 27.80 27.70 27.60 27.40
Initial reading 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Vol of NaOH 27.80 27.70 27.60 27.40

27.80+27.70+27.60+27.40
Average volume of NaOH = 3

= 27.60 mL
2. Reaction of metal and HCl

Mass of metal (sample l ) (g) 0.0216

Mass of metal (sample II ) (g) 0.0214
3. Titration of unreacted HCl
Burette reading/mL Sample I Sample II
Final reading 19.70 29.60
Initial reading 10.00 20.00
Volume of NaOH 9.70 9.60

Calculation :
1. Molarity of the standard solution.
HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H2O
MaV a 1
=
MbV b 1
(M a)(25) 1
= 1
(0.1)(227.60)

Molarity of HCl, Ma = 0.1104 M

2. Number of moles of HCL in 25 mL of the standard solution.

mole of HCl
MV
= 1000
0.1104 (25)
= 1000
= 2.76 ×10−3 mol

3. Number of moles of the unreacted HCl solution.

Sample I :
MV
mole of NaOH react with HCl = 1000
0.1(9.70)
= 1000
= 9.7 × 10-4 mol

1 mol of NaOH react with 1 mol of HCl

9.7 × 10-4 mol of NaOH react with 9.7× 10-4 mol of HCl
 Hence, mol of unreacted HCl = 9.7 × 10-4 mol

Sample II :
MV
mole of NaOH react with HCl = 1000
0.1(9.60)
= 1000
= 9.6 × 10-4 mol

1 mol of NaOH react with 1 mol of HCl

9.6 × 10-4 mol of NaOH react with 9.6 ×10-4 mol of HCl
Hence, mol of unreacted HCl = 9.6 ×10-4 mol

4. Number of moles of the reacted metal.

Sample I :
mole of HCL react with metal M
= (2.76 ×10−3) – (9.7 ×10-4)
= (1.79 ×10−3) mol

From equation,
M + 2HCL → MCL2 + H2

1 mol of M react with 2 mol of HCl

8.95 ×10−4 mol of M react with 1.79 ×10-3 mol of HCl
Hence, mol of M = 8.95 ×10−4 mol

Sample II :
mole of HCL react with metal M
= (2.76 ×10−3) – (9.6 ×10-4)
= (1.8 ×10−3) mol

From equation,
M + 2HCL → MCL2 + H2
 1 mol of M react with 2 mol of HCl
9.0 ×10−4 mol of M react with 1.8 ×10-3 mol of HCl
Hence, mol of M = 9.0 ×10−4 mol
5. Molar mass of metal in each sample.
Sample I :
mass
Molar mass = mol
0.0216
= 8.95× 10− 4
= 24.13 g mol-1

Sample II :
mass
Molar mass = mol
0.0214
= 9 ×10−4
= 23.78 g mol-1

(24.13+23.78)
Average molar mass of metal = 2
g mol-1
= 23.95 g mol -1

6. Determine metal M.
According to Group 2 in Periodic Table, metal M is Magnesium.

Discussion :
The molar mass of metal M, Magnesium obtained from the experiment,
23.95 g mol-1 is slightly smaller than the theoretical value which is 24.3 g
mol-1.

Sources of error
- Misreading of the burette scale.
 - Air bubble usually traps at the burette tip. This may affect the
volume of titrant used in titration.
- mass of Metal M may not consistent due to present of oxide.

Precautions
- To ensure accuracy of burette readings, take the bottom of the
meniscus that aligns with the calibration mark of eye level as
the reading.
- Ensure there are no air bubbles trap in the burette tip during
titration.
- To avoid the formation of oxide layer on metal M, clean the
metal with abrasive cloth and immediately add it into HCl
solution.

Conclusion :
- The molarity of hydrochloric acid, HCl solution is 0.1104 M.
- The molar mass of metal m is 23.95 g mol-1.