Chemistry 212

Mass and Volume Measurements

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this experiment are:

• To become familiar with the various instruments used for making physical measurements.

• To investigate the uses and limits of the various types of laboratory balances.

• To investigate the uses and limits of the various types of volumetric glassware.

BACKGROUND - PART A: Mass Measurements

The accurate determination of mass is one of the most fundamental techniques for students ofexperimental chemistry. Mass is a direct measure of the amount of matter in a sample of somesubstance. That is, the mass of a sample is a direct indication of the number of atoms or molecules thesample contains. Since chemical reactions occur in proportion to the number of atoms or molecules ofreactant present, it is essential that the mass of reactant used in a process be accurately and preciselyknown.

Various types of balances are available in the typical general chemistry laboratory. Such balances differin their construction, appearance, operation, and in the level of precision (number of significant figures)they permit in mass determinations. Three of the most common types of laboratory balance are indicatedin Figures A-1, A-2, and A-3. Determine which sort of balance your laboratory is equipped with, and askyour instructor for a demonstration of the use of the balance if your are not familiar with its operation.

The method of operation differs for the three types of balances, and you should ask your instructor for ademonstration of the proper procedure to use. There are, however, some general points to keep in mindwhen using any balance:

1. Always make sure that the balance gives a reading of 0.000 grams when nothing is present on thebalance pan. Adjust the tare or zero knob if necessary. If the balance cannot be set to zero, askthe instructor for help.

2. All balances, but especially electrical/electronic balances, are damaged by moisture. Do not pour

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liquids in the immediate vicinity of the balance. Clean up any spills immediately from thebalance area.

3. No reagent chemical substance should ever be weighed directly on the pan of the balance. Ideally, reagents should be weighed directly into the beaker or flask in which they are to be used. Plastic weighing boats may also be used if several reagents are required for an experiment. Pieces of filter paper or weighing paper should ordinarily not be used for weighing of reagents.

4. Procedures are generally written in such terms as “weigh 0.5 grams of substance (to the nearestmilligram).” This does not mean that exactly 0.500 grams of substance is needed. Rather, thestatement means to obtain an amount of substance between 0.450 and 0.550 gram, but to recordthe actual amount of substance taken (e.g., 0.496 grams). Unless a procedure states explicitly toweigh out an exact amount (e.g., “weigh out exactly 5.00 grams of NaCl”), you should not wastetime trying to obtain an exact amount. However, always record the amount actually taken to theprecision of the balance used.

5. For accurate mass determinations, the object to be weighed must be at room temperature. If a hotor warm object is placed on the pan of the balance, such an object causes the air around it tobecome heated. Warm air rises, and the motion of such warm air may by detected by thebalance, giving mass determinations that are significantly less than the true value.

6. For many types of balances, there are likely to be small errors in the absolute masses of objectsdetermined with the balance, particularly if the balance has not been properly calibrated or hasbeen abused. For this reason, most weighings in the laboratory should be performed by adifference method: an empty container is weighed on the balance, and then the reagent or objectwhose mass is to be determined is added to the container. The resulting difference in mass is themass of the reagent or object. Because of possible calibration errors, the same balance should beused throughout a procedure.

Figure A-1: Triple beam balance. Never weigh a chemicaldirectly on the balance, since it is more difficult to zero this typeof balance if the balance becomes dirty.

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Figure A-2: Top-loading electric balance. This sort ofbalance is operated manually: the digits are dialed inby the operator until the pointer comes to rest on awhole number.

Figure A-3: Digital electronic balance. The balance directly givesthe mass when an object to be weighed is placed on the pan. Beware of balances that switch scale (from two decimal display tothree decimal display) when heavier objects are being measured.

BACKGROUND - PART B: Volume Measurements

Most of the glassware in your laboratory locker has been marked by the manufacturer to indicate thevolume contained by the glassware when filled to a certain level. The graduations etched or painted ontothe glassware by the manufacturer differ greatly in the precision they indicate, depending on the type ofglassware and its intended use. For example, beakers and Erlenmeyer flasks are marked with veryapproximate volumes, which serve merely as a rough guide to the volume of liquid in the container. Other pieces of glassware, notably burets, pipets, and graduated cylinders, are marked much moreprecisely by the manufacturer to indicate volumes. It is important to distinguish when a precise volumedetermination is necessary and appropriate for an experiment and when only a rough determination ofvolume is needed.

Glassware that is intended to contain or to deliver specific precise volumes is generally marked by themanufacturer with the letters “TC” (to contain) or “TD” (to deliver). For example, a flask that has beencalibrated by the manufacturer to contain exactly 500 mL of liquid at 20EC would have the legend “TC20 500 mL” stamped on the flask. A pipet that is intended to deliver a precise 10.00 mL sample of liquidat 20EC would be stamped with “TD 20 10 mL.” It is important not to confuse “TC” and “TD”glassware: such glassware may not be used interchangeably. The temperature (usually 20EC) isspecified with volumetric glassware since the volume of a liquid changes with temperature, which causesthe density of the liquid to change. While a given pipet will contain or deliver the same volume at anytemperature, the mass (amount of substance present in that volume) will vary with temperature.

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A. Graduated Cylinders

The most common apparatus for routine determination of liquid volumes is the graduated cylinder. Although a graduated cylinder does not permit as precise a determination of volume as do othervolumetric devices, for many applications the precision of the graduated cylinder is sufficient. FiguresB-1 and B-2 show typical graduated cylinders. In Figure B-2, notice the plastic safety ring, which helpsto keep the graduated cylinder from breaking if it is tipped over. In Figure B-1, compare the difference ingraduations shown for the 10-mL and 100-mL cylinders. Examine the graduated cylinders in your lablocker, and determine the smallest graduation of volume that can be determined with each cylinder.

Figure B-1. Expanded view of 10-mL and 100 mL cylinders. Greater precision is possible with the 10-mL cylinder, since eachnumbered scale division represents 1 mL.

Figure B-2. A 100-mL graduated cylinder with a plastic safety ring.

When water (or an aqueous solution) is contained in a narrow glass container such as a graduatedcylinder, the liquid surface is not flat as might be expected. Rather, the liquid surface is curveddownward (see Figure B-3). The curved surface is called a meniscus, and is caused by an interactionbetween the water molecules and the molecules of the glass container wall. When reading the volume ofa liquid that makes a meniscus, hold the graduated cylinder to that the meniscus is at eye level, and readthe liquid level at the bottom of the curved surface.

Figure B-3. Reading a meniscus. Read the bottom of themeniscus while holding at eye level.

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B. Pipets

When a more precise determination of liquid volume is needed than can be provided by a graduatedcylinder, a transfer pipet may be used. Pipets are especially useful if several measurements of the samevolume are needed (such as in preparing similar-sized samples of a liquid substance). Two types of pipetare commonly available as indicated in Figure B-4. The Mohr pipet is calibrated at least at each milliliterand can be used to deliver any size sample (up to the capacity of the pipet). The volumetric transfer pipetcan deliver only one size sample (as stamped on the barrel of the pipet), but generally it is easier to useand is more reproducible.

Figure B-4. A Mohr pipet (left) and a volumetricpipet.

Pipets are filled using a rubber safety bulb to supply the suction needed to draw liquid into the pipet. It isabsolutely forbidden to pipet by mouth in the chemistry laboratory. Two common types of rubber safetybulb are shown in Figure B-5.

Figure B-5. Pipet safety bulbs. Never pipet by mouth.

The simple bulb should not actually be placed onto the barrel of the pipet. This would most likely causethe liquid being measured to be sucked into the bulb itself. Rather, squeeze the bulb, and just gentlypress the opening of the bulb against the opening in the barrel of the pipet to apply suction force, keepingthe tip of the pipet under the surface of the liquid being sampled. Do not force the pipet into the plastictip of the safety bulb, or the pipet may break. Allow the suction to draw liquid into the pipet until theliquid level is 1 or 2 inches above the calibration mark on the barrel of the pipet. At this point, quicklyplace your index finger over the opening at the top of the pipet to prevent the liquid level from falling. By gently releasing the pressure of your index finger, the liquid level can be allowed to fall until itreaches the calibration mark of the pipet. The tip of the pipet may then be inserted into the container thatis to receive the sample and the pressure of the finger removed to allow the liquid to flow from the barrelof the pipet. (See Figure B-6.)

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Figure B-6. Filling technique for volumetric pipet.

To use the more expensive valve-type bulb (see Figure B-5b), squeeze the valve of the bulb marked A,and simultaneously squeeze the large portion of the rubber bulb itself to expel air from the bulb. Pressvalve A a second time, release the pressure on the bulb, and attach the bulb to the top of the pipet. Insertthe tip of the pipet under the surface of the liquid to be measured, and squeeze the valve marked S on thebulb, which will cause liquid to begin to be sucked into the pipet. When the liquid level has risen to aninch or two above the calibration mark of the pipet, stop squeezing valve S to stop the suction. Transferthe pipet to the vessel to receive the liquid, and press valve E to empty the pipet. The use of this sort ofbulb generally requires considerable practice to develop proficiency.

When using either type of pipet, observe the following rules:

1. The pipet must be scrupulously clean before use: wash with soap and water, rinse with tapwater, and then with distilled water. If the pipet is clean enough for use, water will not bead upanywhere on the inside of the barrel.

2. To remove rinse water from the pipet (to prevent dilution of the solution to be measured), rinsethe pipet with several small portions of the solution to be measured, discarding the rinsings in awaste beaker for disposal. It is not necessary to completely fill the pipet with the solution forrinsing.

3. The tip of the pipet must be kept under the surface of the liquid being measured out during theentire time suction is being applied, or air will be sucked into the pipet.

4. Allow the pipet to drain for a least a minute when emptying to make certain the full capacity ofthe pipet has been delivered. Remove any droplets of liquid adhering to the tip of the pipet bytouching the tip of the pipet to the side of the vessel that is receiving the sample.

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5. If you are using the same pipet to measure out several different liquids, you should rinse the pipetwith distilled water between liquids, and follow with a rinse of several small portions of the nextliquid to be measured.

C. Burets

When samples of various sizes must be dispensed or measured precisely, a buret may be used. The buretconsists of a tall, narrow calibrated glass tube, fitted at the bottom with a valve for controlling the flow ofliquid. The valve is more commonly called a stopcock. (See Figure B-7.)

Figure B-7. A volumetric buret. Typically, 50-mL burets areused in chemistry labs.

Like a pipet, a buret must be scrupulously clean before use. The precision permitted in reading a buret is0.02 mL, but if the buret is not completely clean, this level of precision is not attainable. To clean theburet, first use soap and water, using a special long-handled buret brush to scrub the interior of the glass. Then rinse the buret with tap water, followed by several rinsings with distilled water.

Before use, the buret should be rinsed with several small portions of the solution to be used in the buret. The buret should be tilted and rotated during the rinsings, so to make sure that all rinse water is washedfrom it. Discard the rinsings After use, the buret should again be rinsed with distilled water. Many ofthe reagent solutions used in burets may attack the glass of the buret if they are not removed. This woulddestroy the calibration. To speed up the cleaning of a buret in future experiments, the buret may be leftfilled with distilled water during storage between experiments (if your locker is large enough to permitthis).

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A common mistake made by beginning students is to fill the buret with the reagent solution to bedispensed to exactly the 0.00 mark. This is not necessary or desirable in most experiments and wastestime. The buret should be filled to a level that is comfortable for you to read (based on your height). Theprecise initial liquid level reading of the buret should be taken before the solution is dispersed and againafter the liquid is dispensed. The readings should be made to the nearest 0.02 mL. The volume of liquiddispensed is then obtained by simple subtraction of the two volume readings.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

• Wear safety goggles at all times while in the laboratory.

• When using a pipet, use a rubber safety bulb to apply the suction force. Never pipet by mouth.

• Rinse the buret carefully. Do not attempt to admit water directly to the buret from the cold watertap. Fill a beaker with tap water, and pour from the beaker into the buret.

APPARATUS/REAGENTS REQUIRED

Unknown mass samples provided by the instructor, rubber stoppers, small beakers, graduated cylinders,pipets and safety bulb, buret and clamp, beakers, distilled water.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE - PART A: Mass Measurements

1. Record all data and observations directly in your notebook in ink.

2. Examine the balances that are provided in your laboratory. If you are not familiar with theoperation of the type of balance available, ask your instructor for a demonstration of theappropriate technique. In particular, make certain that you are able to determine the level ofprecision permitted by each type of balance available.

3. Your instructor will provide you with several small objects whose mass you will determine. Ifthe objects are coded with an identifying number or letter, record these identification codes inyour notebook and on the report page.

4. Determine and record the mass of a small beaker that can accommodate the objects whosemasses are to be determined. The determination of the beaker’s mass should be to the level ofprecision permitted by the particular balance you are using.

5. Transfer the first unknown object to the beaker, and determine the combined mass of the beakerand object. Record. Determine the mass of the unknown object by subtraction. Record. Becareful with significant figures in the final answers.

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6. Determine and record the masses of each of the remaining objects in the same manner.

7. Using a different balance from that used earlier, determine the masses of each of the unknownobjects on the second balance in the same manner already described. The determination of thebeaker’s mass should be to the level of precision permitted by the particular balance you areusing.

8. Compare the masses of the objects as determined on the two balances. Is there a difference inthe masses determined for each object? In future experiments, always use the same balance forall mass determinations in a given experiment.

9. Show the results of your mass determinations of the unknown objects to your instructor, who willcompare your mass determinations with the true masses of the unknown objects. If there is anymajor discrepancy, ask the instructor for help in using the balance.

EXPERIMENT PROCEDURE - PART B: Volume Measurements

Record all data and observations directly in your notebook in ink.

A. The Graduated Cylinder

1. Your instructor will set up a display of several graduated cylinders filled with different amountsof colored water. Several sizes of cylinders are available (10-mL, 25-mL, 50-mL, 100-mL). Examine each cylinder, paying particular attention to the marked scale divisions on the cylinder. For each graduated cylinder, to what fractional unit of volume does the smallest scale markcorrespond?

2. Read the volume of liquid contained in each graduated cylinder and record. Make your readingsto the level of precision permitted by each of the cylinders.

3. Check your readings of the liquid levels with the instructor before proceeding, and ask forassistance if your readings differ from those provided by the instructor.

4. Clean and wipe dry your 10-mL graduated cylinder and a 50-mL beaker (a rolled-up paper towelwill enable you to dry the interior of the graduate). Weigh the graduated cylinder and beaker andrecord the mass of each to the nearest milligram (0.001 gram).

5. Obtain about 100 mL of distilled water in a clean Erlenmeyer flask. Determine and record thetemperature of the distilled water.

6. Fill the graduated cylinder with distilled water so that the meniscus of the water level lines upwith the 10-mL calibration mark of the cylinder. Place distilled water in the 50-mL beaker up tothe 25-mL mark.

7. Weigh the graduated cylinder and the 50-mL beaker to the nearest milligram (0.001 gram) and

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calculate the mass of water each contains.

8. Using a Density of Water table to calculate the volume of water present in the graduated cylinderand beaker from the exact mass of water present in each.

9. Compare the calculated volume of water (based on th mass of water) to the observed volumes ofwater determined from the calibration marks on the cylinder and beaker. Calculate thepercentage difference between the calculated volume and the observed volume from thecalibration marks. Why are the calibration marks on laboratory beakers taken only to be anapproximate guide to volume?

B. The Pipet

1. Obtain a 10-mL pipet and rubber safety bulb. Clean the pipet with distilled water. Rinse thepipet with tap water, and then with small portions of distilled water. Practice filling anddispensing distilled water from the pipet until you feel comfortable with the technique. Ask yourinstructor for assistance if you have any difficulties in the manipulation.

2. Clean and wipe dry a 150-mL beaker. Weigh the beaker to the nearest milligram (0.001 gram)and record.

3. Obtain about 100 mL of distilled water in a clean Erlenmeyer flask. Determine and record thetemperature of the water.

4. Pipet 10 mL of the distilled water from the flask into the clean beaker you have weighed. Reweigh the beaker containing the 10 mL of water. Determine the weight of water transferredby the pipet.

5. Using a Density of Water table, calculate the volume of water transferred by the pipet from themass of water transferred. Compare this calculated volume to the volume of the pipet asspecified by the manufacturer. Any significant difference in these two volumes is an indicationthat you need additional practice in pipeting. Consult with your instructor for help.

6. How does the volume dispensed by the pipet compare to the volumes as determined in Part Ausing a graduated cylinder or beaker?

C. The Buret

1. Obtain a buret and set it up in a clamp on your lab bench.

2. Fill the buret with tap water, and check to make sure that there are no leaks from the stopcockbefore proceeding. If the stopcock leaks, have the instructor examine the stopcock to make surethat all the appropriate washers are present. If the stopcock cannot be made leakproof, replacethe buret.

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3. Clean the buret with distilled water, being sure to flush water through the stopcock as well. Rinse the buret with several small portions of distilled water, then fill the buret to above the zeromark with distilled water.

4. Open the stopcock of the buret and allow the distilled water to run from the buret into a beaker orflask. Examine the buret while the water is running from it. If the buret is clean enough for use,water will flow in sheets down the inside surface of the buret without beading up anywhere. Ifthe buret is not clean, repeat the scrubbing with soap and water.

5. Once the buret is clean, refill it with distilled water to a point somewhat below the zero mark. Determine the precise liquid level in the buret to the nearest 0.02 mL.

6. With a paper towel, clean and wipe dry a 150-mL beaker. Weigh the beaker to the nearestmilligram (0.001 g).

7. Place the weighed beaker beneath the stopcock of the buret. Open the stopcock of the buret andrun water into the beaker until approximately 25 mL of water have been dispensed. Determinethe precise liquid level in the buret to the nearest 0.02 mL. Calculate the volume of water thathas been dispensed from the buret by subtraction of the two liquid levels.

8. Reweigh the beaker containing the water dispensed from the buret to the nearest milligram, anddetermine the mass of water transferred to the beaker from the buret.

9. Use a Density of Water table to calculate the volume of water transferred from the mass of thewater. Compare the volume of water transferred (as determined by reading the buret) with thecalculated volume of water (from the mass determinations). If there is any significant differencebetween the two volumes, most likely you need additional practice in the operation and readingof the buret.

10. How does the volume dispensed by the buret compare to the volumes as determined in Part Ausing a graduated cylinder or beaker? How does the volume dispensed by the buret compare tothat dispensed using a pipet in Part B?

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PART A: Mass Measurements

Name ___________________________

Lab Instructor ____________________

Section/Day ______________________

Date ____________________________

RESULTS & OBSERVATIONS

1. First balance

Mass of empty beaker ___________________________________

ID number of object Mass of beaker plus object Mass of object itself

____________________ ___________________________ _________________________

____________________ ___________________________ _________________________

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2. Second balance

Mass of empty beaker ___________________________________

ID number of object Mass of beaker plus object Mass of object itself

____________________ ___________________________ _________________________

____________________ ___________________________ _________________________

____________________ ___________________________ _________________________

3. Difference in masses determined on the two balances

ID number of object Difference in mass

__________________________________ __________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

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PART B: Volume Measurements

Name _________________________________

Lab Instructor ___________________________

Section/Day ____________________________

Date __________________________________

RESULTS & OBSERVATIONS

A. The Graduated Cylinder

Identifying color of cylinder water Volume contained in cylinder

_____________________________________ _________________________________

_____________________________________ _________________________________

_____________________________________ _________________________________

Mass of empty 10-mL graduated cylinder ___________________________________________________

Mass of cylinder plus water sample _______________________________________________________

Mass of water in cylinder _______________________________________________________________

Temperature of water sample ____________________________________________________________

Density of water at this temperature _______________________________________________________

Calculated volume of water transferred ____________________________________________________

Difference and percent difference between observed volume and calculated volume _________________

Mass of empty 50-mL beaker ____________________________________________________________

Mass of beaker plus water sample _________________________________________________________

Mass of water in beaker _________________________________________________________________

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Temperature of water sample ____________________________________________________________

Density of water at this temperature _______________________________________________________

Calculated volume of water transferred ____________________________________________________

Difference and percent difference between observed volume and calculated volume _________________

B. The Pipet

Mass of empty 150-mL beaker ___________________________________________________________

Mass of beaker plus water sample ________________________________________________________

Mass of water transferred _______________________________________________________________

Temperature of water sample ____________________________________________________________

Density of water at this temperature _______________________________________________________

Calculated volume of water transferred ____________________________________________________

Difference and percent difference between actual and calculated volumes transferred ________________

C. The Buret

Initial liquid level in buret _______________________________________________________________

Final liquid level in buret _______________________________________________________________

Volume of liquid transferred _____________________________________________________________

Mass of empty beaker __________________________________________________________________

Mass of beaker plus water _______________________________________________________________

Mass of water transferred _______________________________________________________________

Temperature of water __________________________________________________________________

Density at this temperature ______________________________________________________________

Calculated volume of water transferred ____________________________________________________

Difference and percent difference between actual and calculated volumes transferred ________________

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POST LABORATORY QUESTIONS

1. Why is it important always to use the same balance during the course of an experiment?

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2. What error is introduced in a mass determination if the object being weighed is warm? Why?

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3. Based on your experience in this experiment, briefly discuss the relative precision permitted by a

graduated cylinder, a pipet, and a buret. Give several circumstances under which you would use

each instrument, in preference to the other.

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MASS and VOLUME MEASUREMENTS

Name ___________________________

Lab Instructor ____________________

Section/Day______________________

Date ____________________________

PRE LABORATORY ASSIGNMENT

1. Explain the following: Weigh approximately 5 grams of NaCl to the nearest milligram.

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2. It is important to make certain that there is no air bubble in the tip of the buret below thestopcock before the initial reading of the liquid level in the buret is taken. If a 0.5-mL air bubbleis present in the tip of a buret, what percent error in 10-mL, 20-mL, and 40-mL samples willresult if the air bubble is dislodged during the dispensing of the samples?

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