Rates of Reaction Lab
Procedure:

Always have the test tube in a rack when you add the Mg. Never mix the
reactants with the test tube in your hand.
1. Put 5.0 mL of 2.0 M acetic acid into a clean, dry test tube.
2. Cut a piece of Mg ribbon (4-5 mm).
3. Add the piece of Mg. Stopper the test tube with a delivery tube. The open
end should be placed under water in a large beaker. Record the number of
bubbles produced in the first 60 seconds after the first bubble appears.
4. Put 5.0 mL of 2.0 M acetic acid into a small beaker.
5. Add 20.0 mL distilled water to the acetic acid to bring the concentration
down to 0.5 M. Put 5.0 mL of the 0.5 M acetic acid into a clean, dry test
tube.
6. Cut a piece of Mg ribbon (4-5 mm). Try to cut it to a similar size as the
first sample.
7. Add the piece of Mg to the 0.5 M acetic acid. Stopper the test tube with a
delivery tube. The open end should be placed under water in a large
beaker. Record the number of bubbles produced in the first 60 seconds
after the first bubble appears.
8. Put 5.0 mL of 0.5 M acetic acid into a clean, dry test tube.
9. Cut a piece of Mg ribbon (4-5 mm). Try to cut it to a similar size as the
first sample.
10. Heat some water to about 50o C on a hot plate. Remove the water from the
hot plate and place the acetic acid test tube into the warm water. Warm
the acetic acid to between 45 and 50oC in the water bath.
11. Add the piece of Mg to the warm acetic acid while it is still in the warm
water. Stopper the test tube with a delivery tube. The open end should be
placed under water in a large beaker. Record the number of bubbles
produced in the first 60 seconds after the first bubble appears.
12. Put 5.0 mL of 0.5 M acetic acid into a clean, dry test tube.
13. Obtain a small scoop of powdered Mg using the wood splint provided.
Try not to make a mess.
14. Add the powdered Mg to the 0.5 M acetic acid. Stopper the test tube with
a delivery tube. The open end should be placed under water in a large
beaker. Record the number of bubbles produced in the first 60 seconds
after the first bubble appears.
Lab Report
1. In this lab you reacted acetic acid with magnesium, producing magnesium acetate
and hydrogen gas. Write the balanced chemical equation.
Steps
Conc. of
HC2H3O2 (M)
Conditions
1-3
2.0
Strip Mg, room
Temp.
4-8
0.5
Strip Mg, room
Temp
9-12
0.5
Strip Mg, 45oC
13-15
0.5
Powdered Mg,
room Temp.
Prediction of
relative amount
of bubbles
produced.
Bubbles/min.
actually
produced
Lab Report:
Use the standard lab report format (typed). There will be no calculations. Rate your
results from the slowest to the fastest. Give detailed explanations for why certain
reactions proceeded faster than others. For the conclusion, discuss if any of your results
were different than what you expected and discuss errors that could be experienced and
improvements to procedure.
Purpose
Data Chart
Results:
1- slowest to fastest for four conditions
2- Show reaction equation using correct subscripts and capitalization
3- Explain why: use terms like surface area, amount of acid, temperature and rate
of motion
Conclusion:
1- Difference from predictions
2- Errors and Improvements: If you did this lab again, how could you make it go
smoother?
Please clearly label each section of your report as well as number the parts of the results
and conclusion.