A Stoichiometry Experiment Involving Potassium Chlorate

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Introduction

In any science that requires computation, specifically in Chemistry, gathering measurements of various physical and chemical properties need to be strictly accurate and precise for it is in this most crucial phase that either make or break the quality and value of science. No matter how good the experiment was performed, without forethought on how to gather and process data correctly, the collected information would not be reliable enough to draw out a conclusion on it.

This experiment is divided into two parts, thus having dipartite objectives for the whole experiment. In the first part, the main objective is to be able to identify accurately the identity of the unknown substance. The objective for the second part is to compute for the percent composition of the potassium chlorate in a mixture correctly.

Stoichiometry is the branch of chemistry and chemical engineering that deals with the quantities of substances that enter into, and are produced by, chemical reactions. It is the accounting, or math behind, behind chemistry. Given adequate information, Stoichiometry can be used to calculate masses, moles, and percents within a chemical equation.

Methodology

A test tube containing 0.2 gram of manganese dioxide was weighed. After recording the data, 1 gram of the unknown substance was then added into the test tube and weighed again, the data recorded also. The test tube was heated using a gas burner and was held by the clamps of the iron stand. The heating continued until there was no more gas rising out of the mouth of the tube which signified that the chemical reaction had already ceased. The test tube was set aside, allowing it to cool to room temperature. When it had reached room temperature, it was weighed and the data recorded. After recording the weight of the test tube and its contents after heating, a second test tube was also weighed with 0.2 gram of manganese dioxide in it. The data was then recorded. A second unknown which is a mixture of potassium chlorate and potassium chloride weighing 2 grams was then placed on the test tube, it was weighed and the data recorded as well. It was held by the clamps on the iron stand and heated using the gas burner. Similar with the first part of the experiment, it was heated until there was no more gas ascending out of the test tube. It was allowed to reach room temperature. The test tube was the weighed and data recorded.

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