Balancing Equations Lab

Introduction:

This lab consists of 10 stations:

Station 1: Students add silver nitrate solution to sodium chloride solution and identify the precipitate.

Station 2: Students place a clean piece of copper foil into a Bunsen burner flame.

Station 3: Students burn a small amount of sulfur in a Bunsen burner flame

Station 4: Students add copper (II) sulfate solution to zinc metal and allow it to react.

Station 5: Students add conc. Hydrochloric acid to zinc metal and test for the gas produced.

Station 6: Students add water to calcium metal and test for the gas produced.

Station 7: Students add conc. sulfuric acid to barium chloride solution and identify the precipitate.

Station 8: Students add lead (II) nitrate solution to potassium chromate solution and identify the precipitate.

Station 9: Students add iron (III) nitrate solution to sodium hydroxide solution and identify the precipitate.

Station 10: Students add iron (III) sulfate solution to sodium hydroxide solution and identify the precipitate.

Estimated time to complete lab:

60-75 minutes. Students should be given at least 7-8 minutes per station to perform the lab, make their observations and decision, and to clean up the station.

Equipment Required:

Station 1:

Dropper bottle of 0.1 mol/L sodium chloride
Dropper bottle of 0.1 mol/L silver nitrate
Test tube in rack
Test tube brush
Solubility rules/table

Station 2:

Bunsen burner
Copper foil cut 2cm x 2cm in a beaker
Tongs
Waste beaker

Station 3:

Bunsen burner
Sulfur in a beaker
Glass rod

Station 4:

Zinc metal in a beaker
Scoopula
Dropper bottle of 0.1 mol/L copper (II) sulfate solution
Test tube in rack
Test tube brush

Station 5:

Zinc metal in a beaker
Scoopula
Dropper bottle of conc. Hydrochloric acid solution
Test tube in rack
Test tube brush
Wooden splints in 150 mL beaker
Waste beaker for used splints
Bunsen burner

Station 6:

Test tube in rack
Water bottle with distilled (or de-ionized) water
1 freshly cut piece of Ca metal for each group
Test tube clamp/tongs
Waste beaker
Test tube brush
Wooden splints in 150 mL beaker
Waste beaker for used splints
Bunsen burner

Station 7:

Dropper bottle of 0.1 mol/L barium chloride
Dropper bottle of conc. Sulfuric acid
Test tube in rack
Test tube brush
Solubility rules/table

Station 8:

Dropper bottle of 0.1 mol/L potassium chromate
Dropper bottle of 0.1 mol/L lead (II) nitrate
Test tube in rack
Test tube brush
Solubility rules/table

Station 9:

Dropper bottle of 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide
Dropper bottle of 0.1 mol/L iron (III) nitrate
Test tube in rack
Test tube brush
Solubility rules/table

Station 10:

Dropper bottle of 0.1 mol/L sodium hydroxide
Dropper bottle of 0.1 mol/L iron (III) sulfate
Test tube in rack
Test tube brush

Safety Concerns:

Wear safety glasses at ALL times during the lab.
Station 1: Silver nitrate, while not harmful, can stain the students’ hand after contact (it is photo-sensitive).
Station 3: Be aware of any students that are allergic to sulfa-drugs.
Station 5 and 7: Take care when using concentrated acids.
Station 5 and 6: Be sure to hold the test tube with a clamp/tongs as both reactions are extremely exothermic. .In stations 6 do not allow the unreacted Ca to be placed down the sink, place it in a waste beaker under reaction is complete, then dispose of it properly.

Clean Up Concerns: Do NOT allow the students to dispose of the calcium in station 3 down the drain. Other then that, have the students use care and wipe down the lab bench with damp paper towel before leaving each station.

What Can Go Wrong:

Students will/may try to “steal” any excess calcium metal that is left out.
Silver nitrate can cause a stain to appear on hands a couple of hours after the lab – this can cause stress and phone calls at home if the students are not made aware of this potential occurrence.
Test tubes WILL get dropped during the cleaning process – have extras on hand.
Have replacements available for all solutions and consumables as they will run out when it is most inconvenient for you.
Students will/may have trouble lighting the Bunsen burner if you do not review how to light it properly with them.

Student Lab Sheet as a Word Document:

click here to download file

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