Limiting Reactant Lab Report

A. Objectives and background In an experiment, limiting reactant affect the “amount of the product.” In the other way, the product this reaction produce dependent on the limiting reactant. For example, 1000kg O2 and 1 gram H2 to form water. In this case, the 1 gram of H2 will be the limiting reactant. Same thing in displacement reactant. If one of the reactants is (Mole) less than the other one, then that reactants becomes the limiting reactants. Once the limiting reactants will completely be ran out of, the reaction is done. So the limiting reactant is the key to start and finish the chemical reaction.
B. Procedures and Materials In this Lab, we used different procedures and Materials. We had 12.53 gram of copper sulfate pentahydrate and
Before we heated the blue CuSo4 Solution, there were still some crystals remain in the bottom. But when we finished heat the solution, the crystals were completely dissolved. (CuSo4 solution was blue) While we added 1.49 gram of iron filings (black) in to the breaker in small increments. But there were some Iron filings left on the weight cup. In the first five minutes, the solution was still blue and Iron filings were stay at the bottom. After stirred it several times, the solution’s color changed, it became a little bit dark. We use 2.23 gram tower paper to separate product. The water went through tower paper very slowly, and all the remained Iron fillings left on Tower paper. The tower paper totally got wet. We placed this to dry overnight. Than we got 3. 57 gram tower paper with solid(brown). Gram of solid=3.57-2.23=1.34g
We got 1.34 gram solid.
Fe + CuSo4=FeSo4+Cu
Fe:gram/(mole of Fe)=1.49gram/56=0.027mole CuSo4= 0.0502
D. Discussion and conclusions As the result, in calculation we should get 1.512 gram of Cu, but we actually got 1.34 gram of Cu. Although we had 0.0502 mole of CuSo4, but we only have 0.027 mole of Fe, So Fe is the limiting reaction. That why the final solution is still blue, because there still had some CuSo4 in that solution. So the yield percent is 1.34gram/1.512=85.98%
The reasons why we got less then theoretical yield: When we added the Iron filings in to breakers, some of the Iron Filings left on the weight Cup. And some Iron Filings remained breaker’s wall When we used the tower paper, we added too much water at one time, so some of water with solid Splashed a little bit.
So for error 1, I think we could weight the weight cup again after we add Iron Filings in to that breaker. We have to weigh the remained Iron Fillings. The real Iron Fillings we use= (Iron Filings with weight cup)－(the weight cup after add Iron Filings into breaker). And we have to be very careful when we added Iron Fillings in to