Name:__________________________________________ Date:______________ Period:_______

How can Hydrogen Gas be Prepared?

 

Objectives: Prepare hydrogen gas through a chemical reaction with Zn + HCl.

To observe the properties of Hydrogen gas.

Materials:

Safety goggles, Lab apron. Erlenmeyer flask, test tubes, water bath and tubing, mossy zinc, and hydrochloric acid.

 

Procedures:

  1. Wear safety goggles and lab apron throughout this activity.
  2. Assemble the apparatus as shown by your teacher. The water bath should be half full. Fill the test tubes with water. Place your finger over the mouth of this filled test tube and turn it upside down in the water bath.
  3. Place 50 ml of hydrochloric acid in the flask. CAUTION: HANDLE ACID WITH CARE.
  4. Add 5 pieces of mossy zinc to the flask. Immediately stopper the flask.
  5. Let the bubbling go on until all the water in the test tube is replaced by a gas.
  6. Remove the test tube, but do not turn it over. Light a wood splint, and thrust it into the test tube. A popping sound indicates the presence of hydrogen. This might take several attempts before it works.

 

 

 

Results and conclusions:

  1. What happened to the zinc when the acid was added?

2. Is there any heat being generated by this reaction? If so, where?

 

  1. What did the zinc pieces look like after the lab was done?

    2.  

  2. Give three physical properties of the gas generated in this reaction.

    3.  

     

     

  3. If a popping sound was heard you had a chemical reaction between the hydrogen in the test tube and the oxygen in the air. This reaction will produce water. How could you prove that this really happened?

    4.  

  4. What is the chemical EQUATIONS that explains what happened in this lab?

    5.  

     

  5. BONUS POINT. BALANCE THE EQUATION.