Gravimetric analysis is a quantitative method used to determine the amount of an analyte based on the mass of a product formed in a chemical reaction. In this context, we can explore how to calculate the molarity of bromide ions in a solution using stoichiometry and the mass of a precipitate formed.
Consider a scenario where a 25 milliliter solution containing bromide ions is treated with excess lead(II) sulfate, resulting in the precipitation of 0.7550 grams of lead(II) bromide. To find the molarity of the bromide ions, we start with the formula for molarity:
Molarity (M) = \(\frac{\text{moles of solute}}{\text{liters of solution}}\)
First, we convert the volume of the solution from milliliters to liters. Since 1 milliliter is equal to \(10^{-3}\) liters, we have:
25 mL = 0.025 L
Next, we need to determine the moles of bromide ions. We know the mass of lead(II) bromide precipitated, which is 0.7550 grams. To find the moles of lead(II) bromide, we use its molar mass. The molar mass of lead(II) bromide (PbBr2) can be calculated as follows:
Molar mass of PbBr2 = Atomic mass of Pb + 2 × Atomic mass of Br
Using the periodic table, we find:
- Atomic mass of Pb ≈ 207.2 g/mol
- Atomic mass of Br ≈ 79.9 g/mol
Thus, the molar mass of PbBr2 is approximately:
207.2 g/mol + 2 × 79.9 g/mol ≈ 367.008 g/mol
Now, we can calculate the moles of lead(II) bromide:
Moles of PbBr2 = \(\frac{0.7550 \text{ g}}{367.008 \text{ g/mol}} \approx 0.002056 \text{ moles}\)
From the balanced chemical equation, we know that 1 mole of lead(II) bromide produces 2 moles of bromide ions. Therefore, the moles of bromide ions can be calculated as:
Moles of Br- = 2 × Moles of PbBr2 = 2 × 0.002056 moles ≈ 0.004112 moles
Now, we can substitute the moles of bromide ions into the molarity equation:
Molarity of Br- = \(\frac{0.004112 \text{ moles}}{0.025 \text{ L}} \approx 0.1645 \text{ M}\)
Considering significant figures, since both the volume (25.00 mL) and the mass (0.7550 g) have four significant figures, the final answer for the molarity of bromide ions is:
0.1646 M
This example illustrates the application of stoichiometry in gravimetric analysis, allowing us to determine the concentration of an unknown analyte based on the mass of a precipitate formed during a chemical reaction.