General Chemistry I Labs

INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL

Periodic Table

Tables of Physical Data

PRINT WORKSHEETS

Worksheets

LABORATORIES

Lab 1 - Moles, Mass and Volume
- Purpose
  
  To determine how many years it would take to count a mole of popcorn...
- Goals
  
  To gain an understanding of the mole and Avogadro's number...
- Introduction
  
  Atoms are extremely small. How small? Consider aluminum, a substance familiar to you. You know it as furniture (lawn chairs), pie pans, soft drink cans, and foil...
- Equipment
  
  1 150 mL beaker, 1 50 mL graduated cylinder, 1 100 mL graduated cylinder, 1 timer, good to 1 second, ~50 uncooked popcorn kernels, 12 marbles, 1 deionized water squirt bottle
- Reagents
  
  deionized water
- Safety
  
  None of the materials being used in this experiment present a safety hazard...
- Waste Disposal
  
  Popcorn and marbles should go back to the proper containers in the set-up area.
- Prior to Class
  
  Please read the Syllabus and Lab Safety and Practices...
- Lab Procedure
  
  Obtain a small beaker and a jar of popcorn from the set-up area. If you have a watch with a second hand use it as your timer or use the clock on the wall in the lab...
- Worksheet
  
  You will use a hard copy of this worksheet to enter data as you work through the experiment in lab. Print the worksheet and bring it with you to the lab.
Lab 2 - Emission and Absorption
- Purpose
  
  To determine the identities of ions in two solutions of unknown composition by comparing the colors they produce in flame tests with colors produced by solutions of known composition.
- Goals
  
  To gain practice using a Bunsen burner. To observe flame test colors produced by ions in solution...
- Introduction
  
  When many people hear the word radiation, their first thought is something radioactive. However, a scientist thinks about energy moving through space in a series of waves called electromagnetic (EM) radiation or radiant energy...
- Equipment
  
  1 Bunsen burner, 1 Nichrome wire, 1 30 mL beaker, 1 spot plate, 1 grease pencil, 1 deionized water squirt bottle
- Reagents
  
  15 mL 3 M HCl, 5 drops each known salt solution (0.1 M), 5 drops each unknown salt solution (0.1 M)
- Safety
  
  Read the procedure for operating a Bunsen burner in Lab Equipment. Know how to set it up, light it, and operate it safely...
- Waste Disposal
  
  The solutions used in this experiment can be flushed down the sink with plenty of water.
- Prior to Class
  
  Please read the following section in Lab Equipment...
- Lab Procedure
  
  Obtain a wire loop and a spot plate from the set-up area. Using a grease pencil, label the wells on the spot plate with the formulas of the solutions you will be testing...
- Worksheet
  
  You will use a hard copy of this worksheet to enter data as you work through the experiment in lab. Print the worksheet and bring it with you to the lab.
Lab 3 - Solubility Rules
- Purpose
  
  To develop a set of solubility rules.
- Goals
  
  To observe trends in solubility and exceptions to these trends...
- Introduction
  
  Chemical reactions can be classified into five major classes...
- Equipment
  
  1 250 mL beaker (for waste), 1 plastic 8 × 12 well plate, 1test tube rack, 2+ small test tubes
- Reagents
  
  ~3 drops 0.20 M NaCl, ~3 drops 0.20 M NaClO₄, ~3 drops 0.20 M NaOH...
- Safety
  
  Some of the cation solutions are toxic. Do not ingest them. If you spill any on yourself, wash well with soap and water...
- Waste Disposal
  
  All of the solutions prepared in this experiment should be discarded in the waste container on the side shelf...
- Prior to Class
  
  Please complete your WebAssign prelab assignment. Check your WebAssign account for due dates...
- Lab Procedure
  
  Obtain an 8 × 12 plastic well plate. You will be mixing ions in the well plate...
- Worksheet
  
  You will use a hard copy of this worksheet to enter data as you work through the experiment in lab. Print the worksheet and bring it with you to the lab.
Lab 4 - Qualitative Analysis
- Purpose
  
  To develop a separation scheme and confirmatory tests for Fe³⁺, Ba²⁺, and Ag⁺ cations, and to use it to identify the ions in a sample of unknown composition.
- Goals
  
  To explore solubilities and reactivities of different metal ions...
- Introduction
  
  Qualitative analysis is the process by which components of mixtures are separated and identified...
- Equipment
  
  6 small test tubes, 1 test tube rack, 1 test tube brush, 3 glass stirring rods, 1 250 mL beaker for waste collection, 1 plastic 4 x 6 well plate,...
- Reagents
  
  In dropper bottles: 0.10 M Fe(NO₃)₃, 0.10 M Ba(NO₃)₂, 0.10 M AgNO₃, unknown solutions, deionized water,...
- Safety
  
  HCl, H₂SO₄, HNO₃ and NH₃ are corrosive...
- Waste Disposal
  
  All solutions used or produced in this experiment must go into the waste container, as they all potentially contain heavy metal cations...
- Prior to Class
  
  Please read the following section of the Introductory Material...
- Lab Procedure
  
  In a 4 x 6 plastic well plate, prepare a three by three grid of cation solutions and confirmatory reagents...
- Worksheet
  
  You will use a hard copy of this worksheet to enter data as you work through the experiment in lab. Print the worksheet and bring it with you to the lab.
Lab 5 - Molecular Geometry
- Purpose
  
  To explore some simple molecular structures...
- Goals
  
  To compare Lewis structures to three-dimensional models...
- Introduction
  
  The chemical and physical properties of covalently bonded materials are related to the spatial arrangement of the atoms and other electrons not involved in the actual bond formation...
- Equipment
  
  1 Chem-Tutor model kit, 1 computer internet browser, 1 Molecular Geometry In-Lab assignment in WebAssign
- Reagents
  
  No chemicals will be used in this experiment.
- Safety
  
  None of the materials being used in this experiment present a safety hazard...
- Waste Disposal
  
  Since no chemicals are being used in this experiment, there will not be any waste for disposal.
- Prior to Class
  
  Please complete WebAssign prelab assignment...
- Lab Procedure
  
  You will notice the format of this lab experiment is different than other experiments...
- Worksheet
  
  You will use a hard copy of this worksheet to enter data as you work through the experiment in lab. Print the worksheet and bring it with you to the lab.
Lab 6 - Solid State Modeling
- Purpose
  
  To explore some simple solid state structures...
- Goals
  
  To visualize the three dimensional arrangement of atoms and ions in common solid state structures...
- Introduction
  
  The solid state is the least energetic of the three common states of matter. Atoms and ions are packed together in a regular arrangement...
- Equipment
  
  1 Solid-State Model Kit, 1 ruler
- Reagents
  
  No chemicals will be used in this experiment.
- Safety
  
  None of the materials being used in this experiment present a safety hazard...
- Waste Disposal
  
  Since no chemicals are being used in this experiment, there will not be any waste for disposal.
- Prior to Class
  
  Please complete WebAssign prelab assignment. Check your WebAssign Account for due dates...
- Lab Procedure
  
  You will notice the format of this lab experiment is different than other experiments. You will build a series of solid state structures...
- Worksheet
  
  You will use a hard copy of this worksheet to enter data as you work through the experiment in lab. Print the worksheet and bring it with you to the lab.
Lab 7 - Measuring Enthalpy Changes and Gas Laws
- Purpose
  
  To observe changes in enthalpy in chemical processes.
- Goals
  
  To identify exothermic and endothermic processes...
- Introduction
  
  Chemical processes occur spontaneously when they lower the free energy of the system. The free energy at constant temperature and pressure is the Gibbs free energy, ΔG, which is defined as follows...
- Equipment
  
  1 30 mL beaker, 1 100 mL beaker, 1 10 mL graduated cylinder, 1 digital thremoeter, 4 small test tubes...
- Reagents
  
  ~2 g CaCl₂ (s, anydrous), ~2 g NH₄NO₃ (s), 1 mL 1 M NaOH (aq), 1 mL 1 M FeCl₃ (aq), 8 mL 0.1 M NaOH (aq)...
- Safety
  
  The solutions used in this experiment are dilute, but corrosive. They can attack the skin and cause permanent damage to the eyes...
- Waste Disposal
  
  The reaction mixture from Part B of the experiment should be put in the waste container provided...
- Prior to Class
  
  Please read the following section of Lab Safety and Practices...
- Lab Procedure
  
  Use a spoon-type spatula to dispense anhydrous solid CaCl₂ into a dry 30 mL beaker. One spoonful, not heaping, is plenty...
- Worksheet
  
  You will use a hard copy of this worksheet to enter data as you work through the experiment in lab. Print the worksheet and bring it with you to the lab.
Lab 8 - Equilibrium and Le Châtelier's Principle
- Purpose
  
  To observe systems at equilibrium, and to determine what happens when stresses are applied to such systems.
- Goals
  
  To observe the effect on equilibrium of adding or removing products and reactants...
- Introduction
  
  Many chemical systems are considered to be reversible. For example, drop the temperature of water to 0°C and it freezes; raise the temperature above 0°C and it melts...
- Equipment
  
  2 30 mL beakers, 1 100 mL beaker, 1 ceramic spot plate, 2 glass stir rods, 1 hot plate, 1 250 mL beaker for waste collection, 1 deionized water squirt bottle
- Reagents
  
  ~3 mL 0.010 M Fe(NO₃)₃, ~1 0.10 M Fe(NO₃)₃, ~1 mL 0.05 M NaSCN, ~0.1 mL 1.0 M AgNO₃ ~0.1 mL 1.0 M NaNO₃...
- Safety
  
  Concentrated hydrochloric acid (12 M HCl) is very corrosive, and its vapor is a respiratory irritant. Work with it under the fume hood and avoid inhaling the vapor...
- Waste Disposal
  
  All of the solutions prepared in this experiment should be discarded in the waste container on the bench...
- Prior to Class
  
  Please complete WebAssign prelab assignment. Check your WebAssign Account for due dates...
- Lab Procedure
  
  In five wells on a ceramic spot plate, place 2 drops of 0.05 M NaSCN (sodium thiocyanate), 2 drops of 0.01 M Fe(NO₃)₃ solution, and 3 drops of deionized water...
- Worksheet
  
  You will use a hard copy of this worksheet to enter data as you work through the experiment in lab. Print the worksheet and bring it with you to the lab.
Lab 9 - Titrations
- Purpose
  
  To determine the concentration of acetic acid in vinegar.
- Goals
  
  To perform an acid-base titration...
- Introduction
  
  Many laboratories analyze consumer products to determine accuracy in the labeling of the product. The very common and simple technique of titration is demonstrated in this experiment...
- Equipment
  
  1 MicroLab Interface, 1 MicroLab pH Measurement Instruction Sheet, 1 pH electrode in pH 7.00 buffer...
- Reagents
  
  ~100 mL 0.5 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH), ~25 mL commercial vinegar (HC₂H₃O₂), ~15 mL pH 4.00 buffer...
- Safety
  
  NaOH is corrosive. It can attack the skin and cause permanent damage to the eyes...
- Waste Disposal
  
  All solutions can be flushed down the sink with plenty of water.
- Prior to Class
  
  Please read the following sections of the Introductory Material...
- Lab Procedure
  
  In this experiment, you will be using pH electrodes connected to the MicroLab Interface...
- Worksheet
  
  You will use a hard copy of this worksheet to enter data as you work through the experiment in lab. Print the worksheet and bring it with you to the lab.
Lab 10 - Acid-Base Studies
- Purpose
  
  To measure pH's in a variety of solutions and mixtures and to account for the results obtained.
- Goals
  
  To learn to use pH paper and a pH meter to measure the pH of a given solution...
- Introduction
  
  Many substances can be classified as acids or bases. There are three definitions used to describe acids and bases, but we consider only the Brønsted definition here...
- Equipment
  
  1 30 mL beaker, 1 10 mL graduated cylinder, 1 glass stir rod, 7 medium test tubes, 1 test tube rack, 1 pH meter, 1 pH paper, 1 plastic work surface, 1 deionized water squirt bottle
- Reagents
  
  ~25 mL 0.010 M HCl, ~10 mL 0.0010 M HCl, ~10 mL 0.00010 M HCl, ~10 mL 0.010 M HC₂H₃O₂, ~25 mL 0.010 M NaOH, ~10 mL 0.0010 M NaOH...
- Safety
  
  HCl, NaOH, HC₂H₃O₂ and NH₃ are corrosive. They can attack the skin and cause permanent damage to the eyes...
- Waste Disposal
  
  All solutions can be flushed down the sink with plenty of water...
- Prior to Class
  
  Please complete WebAssign prelab assignment. Check your WebAssign Account for due dates...
- Lab Procedure
  
  In this experiment, you will be using pH meters. They have electrodes with a thin glass bulb at the tip. They break easily and are costly to replace...
- Worksheet
  
  You will use a hard copy of this worksheet to enter data as you work through the experiment in lab. Print the worksheet and bring it with you to the lab.
Lab 11 - Redox Reactions
- Purpose
  
  To determine relative oxidizing and reducing strengths of a series of metals and ions.
- Goals
  
  To explore the relative oxidizing and reducing strengths of different metals.
- Introduction
  
  The movement or transfer of electrons is central to our understanding of chemical reactions. The study of the transfer of electrons from one reactant to another is the study of electrochemistry...
- Equipment
  
  1 ceramic spot plate, 3 30 mL beakers, 1 deionized water squirt bottle, 4 electrochemical cell set-ups on the side shelf of the lab
- Reagents
  
  ~6 drops 0.1 M Cu(NO₃)₂, ~6 drops 0.1 M Mg(NO₃)₂, ~6 drops 0.1 M KMnO₄ (acidic), ~9 drops 3% H₂O₂ solution...
- Safety
  
  The potassium permanganate solution (KMnO₄) is a strong oxidizing agent; it is also acidic and corrosive...
- Waste Disposal
  
  The solutions from Part A1 of the experiment should be rinsed into the waste container for oxidizing agents...
- Prior to Class
  
  Please complete WebAssign prelab assignment. Check your WebAssign Account for due dates...
- Lab Procedure
  
  For this lab, Part A will be set up at your lab station. During the lab period, each pair should take turns going to the side shelf to record measurements for Part B.
- Worksheet
  
  You will use a hard copy of this worksheet to enter data as you work through the experiment in lab. Print the worksheet and bring it with you to the lab.