Aim
Problem statement
Hypothesis
To construct the ionic equation for the formation of lead (II) chromate (VI)
How to construct an ionic equation for the formation of lead (II) chromate (VI)
As the volume of potassium chromate (VI) used increases, the height of the yellow
precipitate increases until it achieves a maximum height.
Variables
Manipulated variables
Responding variables
Fixed variables
Volume of 0.5 mol dm-3 potassium chromate (VI) solution
Height of the yellow precipitate
Size of the test tubes, volume and concentration of lead (II) nitrate solution,
concentration of potassium chromate (VI) solution
Apparatus Seven test tubes, test tube rack, retort stand and clamp, metre rule, glass rod, stopper, dropper
Materials 0.5 mol dm-3 lead (II) nitrate solution, 0.5 mol dm-3 potassium chromate (VI) solution
Procedure 1. Seven test tubes of the same size are labelled from 1 to 7. They
are placed in a test tube rack as shown in Figure 1.
Results
Figure 1: The test tubes showing precipitate of varying heights
2. A burette is filled with 0.5 mol dm-3 lead (II) nitrate solution.
3. 5.00 cm3 of lead (II) nitrate solution is added into each of the seven test tubes.
4. Another burette is filled with 0.5 mol dm-3 potassium chromate (VI) solution.
5. Potassium chromate (VI) solution from the burette is added into each of the seven test tubes
according to the volume specified in Table 1.
6. Each test tube is stoppered and shaken well.
7. These test tubes are left aside on the rack for about half an hour to allow the precipitate to settle.
8. The height of the precipitate in each test tube is measured. The colour of the solution above the
precipitate in each test tube is recorded.
9. The results are tabulated in Table 1.
Table 7
Test tube
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Volume of 0.5
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
mol dm-3 lead
(II) nitrate
solution (cm3)
Volume of 0.5
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
-3
mol dm
potassium
chromate (VI)
solution (cm3)
Height of
precipitate (cm)
Colour of
solution above
precipitate
Graph A graph of the height of precipitate against the volume of potassium chromate (VI) solution is plotted.
*Draw graph
Figure 1: Graph of the height of precipitate against the volume of potassium chromate (VI) solution
Inference
Calculation The number of moles of chromate (VI) ions in 5.00 cm3 of 0.5 mol dm-3 potassium chromate (VI)
solution = MV
=
=
The number of moles of lead (II) ions in 5.00 cm3 of 0.5 mol dm-3 lead (II) nitrate solution
= MV
=
=
The simplest mole ratio of lead (II) ions : chromate (VI) ions =__________mol : _________mol
= _________: _________
Thus, the empirical formula of lead (II) chromate (VI) = PbCrO4
Hence, the ionic equation for the precipitation is Pb2+ (aq) + CrO42- (aq) PbCrO4 (s)
Chemical equation for precipitation is Pb (NO3)2 (aq) + K2CrO4 (aq) PbCrO4 (s) + 2 KNO3 (aq)
Discussion 1. A yellow precipitate of lead (II) chromate (VI) is formed in each of the seven test tubes.
2. The height of the precipitate increases gradually from test tube 1 to test tube 5 and then become
constant from test tube 5 to test tube 7. The first test tube to achieve the maximum constant
height of precipitate indicates a complete reaction has taken place where all the reactants have
completely reacted. This occurs at test tube 5 in this experiment.
3. In this experiment, the solutions above the yellow precipitate in test tubes 1, 2, 3, and 4 are
colourless. This is because the colourless lead (II) nitrate solution is still in excess.
4. In test tube 5, all the lead (II) nitrate and potassium chromate (VI) exactly react with each other.
Thus, the solution above the yellow precipitate is potassium nitrate solution which is colourless.
Pb (NO3)2 (aq) + K2CrO4 (aq) PbCrO4 (s) + 2 KNO3 (aq)
5. The solutions above the yellow precipitate in test tubes 6 and 7 are yellow. This is because the
yellow potassium chromate (VI) solution is in excess in each of these two test tubes.
Conclusion The hypothesis is accepted. As the volume of potassium chromate (VI) used increases, the height of
the precipitate increases until it achieves a maximum height.
