Objective 1.

To verify Graham’s law by measuring the distance traveled during the same period of
time by two different gasses of known molecular mass.
2. To determine the molar mass of a volatile liquid by measuring the mass of vapor
needed to fill a flask of known volume at a particular temperature and pressure

Introduction 1.Graham’s Law

The rate of diffusion of two different gases is inversely proportional to the square root
of the mass of its particles. The formula can be written as:

𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒₁ 𝑀₂
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒₂
= 𝑀₁
Where 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒₁ is the rate of diffusion of the first gas, 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒₂ is the rate of diffusion for the
second gas. 𝑀₁ is the molar gas 1,𝑀₂ is the molar mass of gas 2. In this experiment,
students measure the distance traveled by hydrogen chloride and ammonia gasses
during the same time period in order to determine their relative diffusion rates. During
the diffusion process, the two gasses will flow toward each other in the tube. As the
gasses meet and react, a white ring of ammonium chloride, NH₄Cl will appear in the
tube.The chemical equation can be written as:

HCl(g)+NH₃(g)→NH₄Cl(s).

To determine which of the two gasses has diffused farther, it can be determined by the
position of the white ring in the tube.

2.Molar Mass of Volatile Liquid

From the formula of ideal gas law, PV=nRT is directly related to the quantity(mol) of
gas in the sample.

In this experiment, a small amount of easily volatilized liquid will be placed in a flask of
known volume. Next, the flask will be heated in a water bath and atmospheric pressure
will be used to equilibrate. Data from the volume of the flask used, the temperature of
the water bath, and the atmospheric pressure, the number of moles of gas in the flask
can be determined. The molar mass of the liquid can be calculated, from the mass of
liquid required to fill the flask with vapor when it is in the water bath .

Chemicals NH₃(conc) Stopper

and HCl(conc) Medicine dropper
apparatus Acetone(To dry the glass tube) Tweezers or Crucible thongs
Retort stand Stopwatch
Glass tube(50cm in length,10mm Marker pen
internal diameter) Long ruler(1 meter)
Cotton Retort stand
Boiling chips 400/500mL beaker
Unknown volatile liquid 100/125 conical flask
Bunsen burner 500mL graduated cylinder
Pins(To make a hole)
Thermometer
Aluminum foil
Method
Result A.Graham’s Law

Observation of NH₄Cl appearance:

A white ring form in the tube

Trial 1 Trial 2

Start time 0sec 0sec

Finish time(first visible smoke) 721sec 724 sec

Distance traveled by NH₃ 62.0cm 62.5cm

Distance traveled by HCl 38.0cm 38.2cm

Ammonia diffusion rate(cm/s) 0.0860cm/s 0.0863cm/s

HCl diffusion rate(cm/s) 0.0527cm/s 0.0528cm/s

B.Molar Mass of a volatile liquid

Mass of flask,foil,boiling chips and condensed 73.5870g

vapor

Mass of flask,boiling chips and foil 73.2610g

Mass of condensed vapor(mass of vapor) 0.326g

Temperature of vapor 65ºC

Barometric pressure(pressure of vapor) 760 mmHg(Torr)

Volume of flask(Volume of vapor) 152mL

Discussion,C In this experiment, by measuring the distance traveled by two gasses, the rate of
alculations & diffusion of NH₃ and HCl can be determined. After HCl and NH₃ react, a white ring of
Questions ammonium chloride,NH₄Cl will form in the rube. From the data obtained, NH₃ travels
far more than HCl. This is due to NH₃ is lighter compared to HCl. The Kinetic Theory
states that gasses consist of tiny particles of negligible volume, meaning they have
mass, but no volume.Gases that are heavier tend to move slowly, so they diffuse more
slowly according to Kinetic Theory.

From the calculation, the experimental ratio of the rate of diffusion of NH₃ to the rate of
diffusion of HCl is 1.6332 while, the theoretical ratio is 1.4632. The percentage error is
11.62%.There are some errors that happened during the experiment that cause the
value of the experimental ratio to be far from the experimental ratio. One of the errors
is, the wet cotton swabs are not inserted properly causing the gas to escape. Next, the
student, the eye is not perpendicular to the reading of meter rule causes mistakes in
reading.

For part B, formula PV=nRT is used to calculate n,no of moles. After substituting all
the values in the formula, the value of n will be obtained. Thus, formula n=mass/molar
mass is used to calculate molar mass. The molar mass for volatile liquid is 59.54g/mol.

There are some precaution steps that need to be concerned. Make sure to use
tweezers or tongs when saturating the cotton with liquids. This is due to, it can be
corrosive to skin and can irritate eyes. Next, do not inhale vapor during the experiment,
because the vapor might harm the body after inhaling it for a long time. Lastly, make
sure to dispose the cotton swab properly after the experiment.

Questions
Experiment A

a)Calculate the rate of diffusion for NH₃ and HCl.

Trial 1 Trial 2

NH₃ 62.0𝑐𝑚
=0.0860cm/s
62.5𝑐𝑚
=0.0863cm/s
721𝑠 724𝑠

HCl 38.0𝑐𝑚
=0.0527cm/s
38.2𝑐𝑚
=0.0528cm/s
721𝑠 724𝑠

b)Calculate the ratio of the rate of diffusion of NH₃ to the rate of diffusion of HCl.

0.0860+0.0863
Average rate of diffusion for NH₃= 2
=0.08615cm/s

0.0527+0.0528
Average rate of diffusion for HCl= 2
=0.05275cm/s

Ratio of the rate of diffusion of NH₃ to the rate of diffusion of HCl=

0.08615𝑐𝑚/𝑠
0.05275𝑐𝑚/𝑠
=1.6332

c)Using the molecular masses of NH₃ and HCl,calculate the theoretical ratio of the
rates of diffusion of these gasses.
d)Calculate the % error in your experimentally determined value for the ratio of the
rates of diffusion of NH₃ and HCl. Use the theoretical ratio calculated in question 1(c)
as the accepted value for the ratio .

𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓(𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜−𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜)

%error= 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜
X 100%

1.4632−1.6332
= 1.4632
x100%

=11.618%
Experiment B
Calculate the molecular weight of the unknown liquid. Show your calculations, and
include units of different quantities in your calculations.

PV=nRT
nRT=PV
𝑃𝑉
n= 𝑅𝑇
 (1𝑎𝑡𝑚)(0.152𝐿 )
= (0.0821)(338.15𝐾)
−3
=5.4751x10 mol

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
n= 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
Molar mass(n)=mass
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
Molar mass= 𝑛
0.326𝑔
= −3
5.4751𝑥10 𝑚𝑜𝑙
=59.54g/mol

Conclusion The experimental ratio of the rate of diffusion of NH₃ to the rate of diffusion of HCl is
1.6332, while the theoretical ratio is 1.4632. The percentage error is 11.62% . The
molar mass of the volatile liquid is 59.54g/mol. The objective to verify Graham’s law
and to calculate the molar mass of the volatile liquid is achieved.

References 1. Helmenstine, A.M. (2019, July 3). Graham’s Law Definition [Review
of Graham’s Law Definition]. ThoughtCo.
https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-grahams-law-604513.

2. G420: Graham’s Law of Diffusion – NH3 and HCl Diffusion. (2015,

December 23). Lecture Demonstration Manual General Chemistry.
https://www.colorado.edu/lab/lecture-demo-manual/g420-grahams-law-diffusion
-nh3-and-hcl-diffusion.

3.Libretexts. (2021, September 22). 11B: The Dumas Method (Experiment).

Chemistry LibreTexts.
https://chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary_Materials/Laboratory_Experiments/Wet_La
b_Experiments/General_Chemistry_Labs/Online_Chemistry_Lab_Manual/Che
m_11_Experiments/11B:_The_Dumas_Method_(Experiment).

Datasheet