Finding the Amount of Water in Potassium Chlorate

by: Anthony Ramezan

Abstract

    n this lab the amount of oxygen was to be found in potassium chromate. First, the mass of the potassium chromate was found. The potassium chromate was then placed over a Bunsen burner until all of the oxygen was gone from the compound. The mass of the compound stayed constant when all of the oxygen was out of the compound. The percent of oxygen was then found in the potassium chlorate. The percent of oxygen in potassium chlorate was found to be 39.7%.

Research Question

    How can the amount of oxygen in potassium chlorate be found?

Materials

Bunsen burner
Test tubes
Potassium chlorate
Ringstand
Centigram
Goggles

Data

Mass of test tube – 21.709g
Mass of test tube + KClO₃ – 23.931g
Mass of KClO₃ – 2.222g
Mass of KCl (after heated) – 1.339g
Mass of O₃ – 0.883g
Molar mass of KClO₃ – 122.6g

Calculations

% O₃ in KClO₃
% O₃=M_O/M_KClO3
% O₃=0.883g/2.222g
% O₃=39.7%

%Error
% Error=| Empirical - Known| /Known * 100
% Error=| 39.7% - 39.2%| /39.2% * 100
% Error=1%

Observations

October 27, 1998
Temperature: 23.1° C
B.P: 740.9 mm of Hg

Conclusion

    The amount of oxygen was found in potassium chlorate. The procedure in this lab was looked over by all group members to minimize the amount of error. Many safety precautions were taken to keep the lab safe. The safety rules were followed very well.