Hi,
Is my argument correct below?
the reaction being considered is dissolving solid calcium carbonate in hydochloric acid to produce aqueous Calcium Chloride, carbon dioxide gas and more water.
Now if we take 0.1 moles of CaCo3 (RMM = 100). This is 10 grams
0.1 moles CaCo3 creates 0.1 mole CO2
Since for an ideal gas V = nRT / P
using SI units
if we do the experiment at 20C (293K)
R = 8.3 J · K-1 · mol-1
n = 0.1 mol
P = 105 Pascals
So V (CO2 generated) = 0.0025 m3
and since 106 cm3 = 1m3
V (CO2 generated) = 2,500 cm3
Now if the balance can weigh to an accuracy of + / - 0.01g, if we take 10g CaCo3 then the accuracy of the readings from the balance is 0.01 / 10 = 0.001 = + / - 0.1%
However, if my gas syringe can contain around 200 cm3 and my reading error is + / - 2 cm3, that will be around + / - 25 cm3 in the 2,500 cm3 of CO2 created by the reaction - by accumulating the errors from reading the syringe about 12 times.
So the error in reading the gas syringe will be (+ / - 25) / 2,500 = + / - 0.01 = + / - 1%
Therefore for this experiment, the readings from the gas syringe are the major source of error.
Thanks
Clive