Sample Data Trial

1 2 3 4 5
Time stoppers inserted 0:00 0:00 0:00 0:00 0:00
Time NH4Cl observed 6:25 7:10 6:40 6:55 6:36
Time elapsed, s 385 430 400 415 396
Distance traveled by NH3, cm 34.9 34.7 34.2 34.2 34.5
Distance traveled by HCl, cm 24.6 25.3 25.1 25.3 25.4
Rate of diffusion of NH3, cm/s 0.091 0.081 0.086 0.082 0.087
Rate of diffusion of HCl, cm/s 0.064 0.059 0.063 0.061 0.064
Accepted molar mass of NH3, 17.03 17.03 17.03 17.03 17.03
g/mol
Experimental molar mass of 34.43 32.10 31.73 30.77 31.47
HCl, g/mol
Average molar mass of HCl, g/mol 32.10
Actual molar mass of HCl, g/mol 36.46
Percent error, % -11.96%

Show your work for each of the following calculations from Trial 1.
1) Rate of diffusion of NH3

Rate of diffusion of NH3 = Distance travelled by NH3/Time elapsed = 34.9/385 = 0.091 cm/s

2) Rate of diffusion of HCl

Rate of diffusion of HCl = Distance travelled by HCl/Time elapsed = 24.6/385 = 0.064 cm/s

3) Experimental molar mass of HCl

Molar mass of HCL = {Diffusion rate (NH3) / Diffusion rate (HCl)} 2 x Molar mass (NH3)
= (0.091/0.064)2 x 17.03 = 34.43 g/mol
Post-lab Questions
1. Why was it important to keep the inside of the tube dry?

The primary requirement for determination of rates of diffusion using Graham’s law is that we need
to work with gases. Hence, drops of concentrated HCl and NH3 are introduced in a perfectly dry test
tube and sealed at the same time. HCl and NH3 are soluble in water; hence, if the test tube is not dry,
HCl and NH3 will dissolve in the water forming aqueous HCl and NH3 and the purpose of Graham’s
law will be defeated.

2. How would each of the following affect your calculated molar mass of HCl (incorrectly high, low or no
effect)? Explain your answers.
a) A student placed the HCl-soaked cotton in first, and then placed the NH3-soaked cotton on the other
end.
b) The temperature of the classroom increased during the lab period and the temperature during each trial
was significantly higher than the one before it.

a) Since, HCl cotton was placed first it would already start diffusion towards NH3 cotton and
hence, the distance travelled by HCL will be more than actual and distance travelled by NH3 will
be less than actual. Rate of diffusion of NH3 will decrease and rate of diffusion of HCl will
increase, thus calculate value of Molar mass of HCl will be less than the correct value. But the
error would not be very significant and hence the effect is Low.

b) The rate of diffusion increases with increasing temperature and hence, every time the time
elapsed would decrease very significantly, and thus it will have significant effect on Calculated
molar mass of HCl and thus, the effect will be high.

3. Use a thermometer to estimate the temperature of the lab then calculate the average rms-speeds (u rms) of NH3 and
HCl at that temperature. Use the actual molar mass of HCl.
(assume a lab temp of 25 °C)

average rms-speeds (urms) = Sqrt {3RT/Molar mass)

R = 8.3145 J/mol K
T = 25°C = 298.15 K
Molar Mass of NH3 = 17.03 g/mol = 0.01703 kg/mol
Molar Mass of HCl = 36.46 = 0.03646 kg/mol

Putting these values,

Average rms-speeds (urms) of NH3 = Sqrt (3 x 8.3145 x 298.15 / 0.01703) = 660.83 m/s

Average rms-speeds (urms) of HCl = Sqrt (3 x 8.3145 x 298.15 / 0.03646) = 451.64 m/s

Given these speeds, why didn’t you see a white solid form immediately after inserting the stoppers?

Because, it takes time for transition from Gaseous to solid form upon reaction.
Pre-lab Questions

1. An unknown gas reacts with silane gas (SiH4) to produce a solid product. Using an experiment similar to the one
performed in this lab, a sample of silane was placed at one end of a glass tube and the unknown at the other end.
After 3 minutes, 33 seconds the solid formed in tube, 29.4 cm from the silane end of the tube and 20.6cm from the
end with the unknown.
a) Calculate the rate of diffusion of silane (in cm/s).
b) Calculate the rate of diffusion of the unknown (in cm/s)
c) Calculate the molar mass of the unknown gas.

Total time = 3 min 33 sec = 3X60 + 33 = 213 sec

a) rate of diffusion of silane =distance / time

=29.4 cm / 213 sec

= 0.138 cm/s

b) Similarly, rate of diffusion of unknown = 20.6 cm / 213 s = 0.096cm /s

c) using graham law of diffusion,

Rate of diffusion of silane / rate of diffusion of unknown

= (molar mass of unknown / molar mass of silane )

On rearranging, we get

Molar mass of unknown = ( rate of diffusion of silane / rate of diffusion of unknown)^2 * molar mass of silane

= ( 0.138 / 0.096)^2 * 32.117 g mol-1

= 66.3 g mol-1

2. Once you soak each piece of cotton (see steps 3 and 4 of the procedure), why is it important not to set the two
stoppers next to each other?

When a glass rod dipped in the ammonia solution is brought near HCl gas, a dense white fume of ammonium
chloride is formed.

This is because ammonia reacts with the fumes of HCl to give ammonium chloride.

NH3+HCl→NH4Cl,

If the stoppers are close they will react outside there only hence they are kept distant.

3. Where should you prepare your cotton samples?

The cotton samples should be prepared using Q-Tips placed in rubber stoppers on a clean surface and should be
prepared at a distance from each other.