Question

What would cause a high percent error when determining the molar mass of a metal using gas law determination

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

There are several factors that could cause a high percent error when determining the molar mass of a metal using gas law determination:

1. Experimental errors: Errors can occur during the experimental procedure, such as incorrect measurements of volume or pressure, faulty equipment, or human errors in data recording. These errors can significantly affect the calculated molar mass.

2. Contamination: If there are impurities in the metal sample, it can affect the accuracy of the measurement. These impurities can alter the measured volume or pressure, leading to a high percent error in the molar mass determination.

3. Incomplete reaction: The reaction between the metal sample and the gas might not be complete, leading to an inaccurate measurement of the volume, pressure, or moles of gas produced. This incomplete reaction can result from factors like insufficient reaction time or temperature.

4. Sample preparation: If the metal sample is not pure or properly prepared, it can lead to incorrect results. For example, if the metal is not completely dried or if it contains moisture, it can affect the gas measurement and subsequently the molar mass determination.

5. Assumptions and ideal gas behavior: Gas laws are based on certain assumptions, including ideal gas behavior, which might not hold true for the metal sample being tested. If the metal behaves differently from an ideal gas (e.g., it exhibits significant intermolecular forces), the gas law calculations may not be accurate.

6. Incorrect stoichiometry: If the reaction between the metal and the gas is not stoichiometric, it can lead to an inaccurate calculation of the moles of gas produced. This incorrect stoichiometry can occur if the reaction is incomplete, if there are side reactions, or if there are errors in determining the reaction coefficients.

7. Experimental conditions: The gas law determination relies on specific experimental conditions, such as temperature and pressure. If these conditions deviate from the ideal values or if they are not properly controlled, it can lead to a high percent error in the molar mass determination.

Overall, a high percent error when determining the molar mass of a metal using gas law determination can be caused by a combination of experimental errors, contamination, incomplete reactions, improper sample preparation, deviations from ideal gas behavior, incorrect stoichiometry, and problematic experimental conditions.