Determining Solution Concentration Using a Colorimeter: Beers Law Lab

November 21, 2011

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this lab was to determine the concentration of a colored ion solution.

PROCEDURE:

1. Label five test tubes 1-5.

2. Add 2.0 mL of 0.1 M Co(NO3)2 to the first test tube. Continue by adding 4.0mL to the
second, 6.0 mL to the third, 8.0 mL to the fourth, and 10.0 mL to the fifth.
3. Pipet water into each tube making a 10.0 mL solution.
4. Set the wavelength on the colorimeter to 470 nm.
5. Calibrate the colorimeter with a blank curvette filled with water. Be sure to wipe the
sides with a Kimwipe.
6. Start data collection by pressing play on the LabQuest
7. Fill different curvettes full of solution from each of the five test tubes.
8. Test each solution in the colorimeter and save the data on the LabQuest when the
absorbance value stabilizes. Enter the concentration and store data.
9. Test all five samples. When complete, hit stop on the LabQuest.
10. Test two samples of unknown concentration.

DATA:

Volume of stock Total Volume of Molarity Absorbance Transmittance

solution dilute solution %T
2.0 mL Co(NO3)2 10.0 mL 0.02 mol/L 0.050 89.21%
4.0 mL Co(NO3)2 10.0 mL 0.04 mol/L 0.131 74.00%
6.0 mL Co(NO3)2 10.0 mL 0.06 mol/L 0.166 68.18%
8.0 mL Co(NO3)2 10.0 mL 0.08 mol/L 0.291 51.20%
10.0 mL Co(NO3)2 10.0 mL 0.1 mol/L 0.321 47.72%

RESULTS:

Molarity of each solution of Co(NO3)2 - Solving Process:

2.0 mL Co(NO3)2 1L 0.1 mol Co(NO3)2
1000 mL 1L

= 0.02 mol/L
 A. Wick
Chemistry
Period 1
Molarity of each solution of Co(NO3)2 : See Table Above in Data
Concentration of Unknown Solutions:
y=mx+b
y=3.5166x 0.019248

Unknown #2:
Absorbance- 0.094
0.094=3.5166x 0.019248
x=0.032 mol/L

Unknown #4:
Absorbance- 0.284
0.284=3.5166x 0.019248
x=0.862 mol/L

QUESTIONS:

1. The absorbance of 0.036M Co+2 according the my line equation is

y=3.5166(0.036) 0.019248, which ends up being 0.107 absorbance value.
2. The minimum and maximum concentrations that can be measured on my calibrated graph
are 0.02 M and 0.1M.
3. To increase the range add a 0 M solution to the experiment. Also add more solutions with
higher concentrations that way the difference between the 0 M and the highest
concentration will be more dramatic.
4. In the equation A=abc, the values for a and b can be neglected because a and b are
constant for both the standard and the unknown solutions.

CONCLUSION:
The purpose of this lab was to find the concentration of two solutions. We first had to test
know concentrations to find the formula. After testing five different concentrations of Co(NO3)2,
we found the formula to be y=3.5166x 0.019248 where y is the absorbance and x is the
concentration. There are many errors that occurred in this lab that fluctuated this equation. The
main error being that all the measurements are not 100% accurate. This causes the slope and
intercept of the line to be off, which varies the concentration slightly. Another error that may
have occurred is that the curvette still may have had some slight smudges or dust even after
wiping it with a Kimwipe. This would affect the absorbance, and in the end, it too would also
cause the slope and intercept to vary slightly.