So I did a lab which involved adding an excess of hydrochloric acid to half a spoonful of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). The hydrochloric acid was added by using a dropper, and we were told to stop once the baking soda had stopped bubbling. Then we put it in a incubator/drying oven. The point of this lab was to first calculate the amount of sodium chloride that was supposed to be produced, take what we DID produce, and find the percentage yield.
What might cause the percent yield of sodium chloride to be less than 100%?
What might cause the percent yield of sodium chloride to be more than 100%?
NaHCO3 (s) + HCl (aq) --> NaCl (s) + CO2 (g) + H2O (g)
What might cause the percent yield of sodium chloride to be less than 100%?
What might cause the percent yield of sodium chloride to be more than 100%?
NaHCO3 (s) + HCl (aq) --> NaCl (s) + CO2 (g) + H2O (g)
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Imperfect dilutions and measurements of the substances would be the main reason for both. If the concentration of the HCl was under what it should have been, there would be less NaCl. If not enough NaHCO3 was used, the same would occur. If HCl and NaHCO3 were both used just a little too much, more would be made. Experimental error is what happens to everyone at some point, no matter how hard you try.