Determination of the Universal Gas Constant Introduction Boyles Law says that there is an inverse relationship between pressure

and volume of a gas. This can be expressed mathematically as PV = k, where k is a constant. Charles Law says that there is a direct relationship between volume and temperature of a gas. This can be expressed mathematically as V/T= k. If these two gas laws are combined, the result is the Combined Gas Law: PV/T = k. If the amount of gas, moles, is incorporated into the expression, the result is the Ideal Gas Law: PV = nRT where n is moles of gas, T is the temperature in Kelvin, and R is a constant called the Universal Gas Constant. The moles of gas, n, can be determined by the equation n = g/MM, where g is the mass of gas, and MM is the Molar Mass of the gas. If this is substituted into the Ideal Gas Law, then PV = gRT/MM. Solving for R yields R = PVMM/gT. In this experiment, carbon dioxide gas will be generated and collected from the reaction of calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid. Procedure 1. Place several grams of calcium carbonate into a gas-generating container. 2. Record todays barometric pressure in mm of Hg. 3. Obtain a dropper full of 6 M HCl. 4. Mass a gas-collecting flask on the balance with its CAP ON. 5. Remove the cap, and stick a thermometer into the gas-collecting flask and record the temperature of the air. Record the temperature. 6. Hook up the gas-generating flask to the gas-collecting flask, and begin generating gas by slowly adding the acid to the calcium carbonate. Let the reaction run at least 10 minutes. 7. After the allotted time, mass the gas-collecting flask, filled with gas with its cap on, and record. 8. Remove the cap, and record the temperature of the carbon dioxide gas. 9. Fill the gas-collecting flask with water. With the cap on, mass the flask. Calculations 1. Calculate the mass of water in the flask, and the volume of the gas in the flask. 2. Calculate the mass of dry air in the empty flask using the Combined Gas Law to correct to STP conditions. (Density of dry air is 1.29 g/L @ STP) 3. Calculate the mass of the flask without air in it. 4. Calculate the mass of the carbon dioxide gas collected. 5. Calculate the value of the Universal Gas Constant. 6. Calculate the % error in your answer, and do an error analysis on your data.

Questions 1. Why do you have to calculate the mass of the air in the gas-collecting flask? 2. What would happen to the value of R if you dont collect a full flask of carbon dioxide gas? 3. Considering your data, and error analysis, comment on the accuracy of your answer.

Pre-Lab 1. 27.3 ml of gas is collected at 22.3 C and 755 mm of Hg. What is the volume of gas at STP? 2. What is the mass of 38.2 ml of dry air at STP? 3. If atmospheric pressure on a given day is 751.3 mm of Hg, what is the pressure in atmospheres? 4. How many grams of carbon dioxide occupy 35.2 ml at 21 C and 753.2 mm Hg?