Chem Blog Week 21

This week in chemistry we learned the connection between molar mass and density that if you know molar mass you are able to determine the density of the the element. In the case of our electrolysis experiment, hydrogen and oxygen.

This week, my group and I did an electrolysis experiment. I was so excited because ever since we saw the process of electrolysis on the SMARTBoard I wanted to try it out for myself. We had to hook up two probes to two metals ends at the bottom of the trough. We had to fill the trough with sodium chloride water solution. But, why not water? This is the part I felt I wasn't so sure of, but I think it had to do with the fact that sodium chloride could conduct electricity in order for the hydrogen and oxygen particles to chemically split from each other.

Then we use two graduated cylinders (one for hydrogen and the other for oxygen) and put them on top of the metal ends making sure that they are still full. This was a little hard but we were able to do so in a few attempts .This reminded me of the experiment a while ago with the trough but I think this was a bit simpler because instead we had to scoop the tubes with the solution and slowly tilt them to the bottom of the trough, then tilt it again toward the metal end and cover it with the tube without going over the top of the tube. It felt like doing brain surgery with the amount of caution to flip over a test tube!

Then, after that ordeal was over with, we then cranked the machine and repeatedly turned the handle clockwise. We then kept track of the volumes for each of the tubes filled with the hydrogen and oxygen. Every time we recorded the data, there was twice as much volume of the hydrogen as there was oxygen.

We ended up finding out that compared to hydrogen oxygen is much denser even though hydrogen has twice as much volume. This adds up because we now know that the molar mass of oxygen is 16 g/mol and that hydrogen is only 1 g/mol.

This week was very fun because we did a group lab and that is one of my favorite aspects of chemistry and science in general: the experiments! With this experiment I was able to get a greater grasp of molar mass and of the fixed ratio of compounds. Feel confident with the concepts of this week hopefully I do this well next week. I am not sure what is to come next week but I trust that I won’t be disappointed with what I learn next!