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Year 10 - Science

Determining an equation experimentally: sodium hydrogencarbonate (RAM 1 d.p.)

Calculations involving masses

Unit Summary

This unit covers writing chemical formulae, balancing equations, and using the conservation of mass. It includes calculating moles, empirical formulae, relative formula masses, and theoretical yields. Emphasis is on stoichiometry, concentration, gas volumes, and using standard form.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe a safe experiment to calculate the stoichiometric values for the decomposition of sodium hydrogencarbonate.

Key Notes

  • Heating sodium hydrogencarbonate in a crucible leads to its decomposition.
  • The risk involved with heating sodium hydrogencarbonate is low.
  • The stoichiometry for a reaction can be calculated given experimental data.
  • Because a gas is not a reactant in this reaction, the crucible lid remains closed throughout the heating process.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • decomposition: A type of reaction where a reactant compound breaks down into two or more products.
  • ratio: A ratio can be used to determine the size of one quantity in relation to another.
  • stoichiometry: The molar ratio of the reactants and products in a chemical reaction.
  • mole: 1 mole of a substance is 6.02 × 10²³ particles of it. The mass of a mole of a substance is its relative mass in grams.
  • balanced symbol equation: A reaction using a symbol equation with coefficients to ensure there are equal numbers of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may think that the mass of the crucible and contents will not change during the reaction because the lid is closed, believing that all gases produced remain inside.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

Heating sodium hydrogencarbonate in a crucible leads to its decomposition. The risk involved with heating sodium hydrogencarbonate is low.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'decomposition'

A type of reaction where a reactant compound breaks down into two or more products. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils may think that the mass of the crucible and contents will not change during the reaction because the lid is closed, believing that all gases produced remain inside. Correction: Explain that even with the crucible lid on, gases like carbon dioxide & water vapour formed during decomposition can escape around the edges. This leads to a decrease in mass, which is crucial for calculating the stoichiometry based on the mass loss.

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