9: Molar Volume of a Gas
- Page ID
- 514171
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- To determine the molar volume of \(\ce{CO2}\) gas at room temperature.
- To use Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures and the combined gas law to determine the molar volume of \(\ce{CO2}\) at STP.
INTRODUCTION
In this experiment, carbon dioxide will be obtained from the thermal decomposition of sodium bicarbonate, \(\ce{NaHCO3}\). When solid sodium bicarbonate decomposes, the products will be solid sodium carbonate, water, and carbon dioxide gas. You will need to write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction.
You will heat a sample of sodium bicarbonate until the evolution of carbon dioxide is complete. The displacement of water will determine the volume of carbon dioxide produced. To complete the calculations in this lab, you will calculate the number of moles of carbon dioxide evolved. These values can be used to determine the molar volume of carbon dioxide at room conditions.
Because the reaction produces water and the gas is collected by displacing water, water vapor will also be present in the gas. The experiment is designed so that the total pressure of the carbon dioxide and water vapor equals the atmospheric pressure; you can easily measure this quantity with a barometer. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the flask can be calculated using Dalton’s Law. A graph of vapor pressure of water as a function of temperature can be found at the end of this document.
Once the pressure, volume, and temperature of one mole of carbon dioxide have been found at room conditions, the combined gas law can be used to determine the volume that would be occupied by one mole of carbon dioxide at STP.
A suitable apparatus for this experiment is shown in the figure in the Experiment section. The sample of sodium bicarbonate is placed in the test tube. The Florence flask or vacuum flask (side-arm flask) is filled with water. Some of the water is displaced by carbon dioxide and is pushed into the beaker. The volume of water in the beaker will be identical to the volume of gas evolved.
- 9.1: Molar Volume of a Gas - Experiment
- This page provides essential safety precautions, required equipment, and a step-by-step procedure for an experiment on sodium bicarbonate decomposition. It highlights key safety measures, such as wearing protective eyewear and careful handling of heated glassware. The procedure includes assembling apparatus, preparing materials, equalizing pressure, decomposing sodium bicarbonate, and measuring displaced water.
- 9.3: Molar Volume of a Gas - Data and Report
- This page details a laboratory experiment on sodium bicarbonate, emphasizing data collection and analysis of gas volume produced. It features tables for mass, volume, temperature, and pressure, alongside calculations for moles and carbon dioxide produced. Additionally, post-lab questions stimulate critical thinking about experimental errors, temperature effects on gas volume, and alternative measurement methods, highlighting key concepts in experimental design and gas laws.

