Variables
Independent variable is the amount of hydrated copper sulfate that I use and the dependent variable is the amount of copper sulfate that I get after the process. The controlled variables are the temperature of the room and the pressure of the room and the weight of crucibles that I used.
Materials
- Bunsen Burner
- Tripod
- Metal tongs
- Metal grid
- Digital scale
- A Crucible
- Hydrated copper sulfate
- Goggle
Procedure
First I weighed the empty crucible with digital scale then I put the hydrated copper sulfate (1.70g) into the crucible and weighed the mass of the crucible with the hydrated copper sulfate again on the digital scale. Furthermore, I set the tripod and the metal grid, and heated crucible with the Bunsen burner on the tripod. After about 2 minutes I put turned off the Bunsen burner and carried the crucible onto the table and cooled it for a few minutes. Then I put the crucible again on the digital scale and recorded the mass of it.
Data collection and processing
The mass of empty crucible= 50.12g (±0.01g)
The mass of crucible with hydrated copper sulfate= 51.82g (±0.01g)
The mass of hydrated copper sulfate= 51.82g-50.12g= 1.70g (±0.01g)
The mass of crucible after heating= 50.92g
The mass of copper sulfate= 51.82g-50.92g= 0.90g (±0.01g)
Conclusion
The mass of copper sulfate which is made after heating hydrated copper sulfate is 0.9g.
0.8g of water is evaporated from hydrated copper sulfate.
Evaluation
There could be some errors in measuring the weight of crucible and the digital scale could have been wrong with some errors. Also the heating time was too short to evaporate the water particles in the hydrated copper sulfate.
Improving the experiments
The more accurate digital scale can improve the experiment and I should not move during measuring the weight of crucible because the scale can react with the movement of wind that I make. Furthermore, I must use completely cleaned crucible for accuracy. Enough time for heating is needed to make copper sulfate from hydrated copper sulfate.