An Experiment To Investigate If Particle Size Affects The Amount Of Carbon Dioxide Produced Essay, Research Paper

Hypothesis

I think that the smaller limestone chips will produce the greater amount of carbon dioxide than the larger chips as there will be a greater surface area for the acid to react upon. This is because the greater the surface area the higher the amount of collisions between limestone and acid particles. Therefore the smaller chips will lose a greater mass. The formula for this reaction is Marble + Hydrochloric = Carbon + Water + Calcium

ChipsAcid Dioxide Chloride CaCO3(s) + 2HCL(aq) = CO2(G) + H2O(l) + CACL2(aq) Method

·Set up apparatus as shown in diagram.

·Weigh the correct mass of limestone.

·Add acid to the limestone and record the change in mass.

·Repeat for each chip size.

Safety

·Be careful handling the acid.

·Wear goggles at all times.

·Be careful dropping limestone into glass beakers. Fair Test Variable

Particle Size Factors remaining the same

Same mass of limestone

Same volume of acid

Same molar acid Apparatus Large Beaker

Weighing Scale

Measuring Cylinder

Spatula

Stopwatch

Cotton Wool

Obtaining Analysing Conclusion. The prediction I made was correct as the smaller the particle size the greater the mass loss. This is because of the collision theory – the higher the total surface area the more particles can collide and react. The larger chips have a smaller surface area and don’t decrease as much in mass.

Although the larger block may have the same mass as the four small ones put together it has a smaller surface area.

However there were problems with the experiment because some of the water could condense o the cotton wool adding weight to the experiment. To counter this a semi-permeable membrane could be used to let the gas produced escape. Also there could be some human error, making inaccurate timing and starting mass making an unfair test.

Evaluating Evaluation My experiment went well but we did not have time to do the small granules so we used a class set of results only for the small granules.

There doesn’t seem to be any odd results on the graph. The reason we did not have enough time because there were not many digital balances. We could have been more organised by sharing jobs. If the class had enough balances then we would of finished in time. The reason we had no odd results because the balance was digital and to two decimal places.