Purpose: The purpose of performing the 2 gram lab was to obtain 2.00 grams of our solid product, barium sulfate. In order for barium sulfate to be a product, we decided to perform a double replacement reaction.
Background: In order for barium sulfate to be a product, we decided to perform a double replacement reaction. A double replacement reaction occurs when two compounds with two elements in each compound combine. After they combine, the first element in the first compound combines with the second element in the second compound; the first element in the second compound combines with the second element in the first compound. For example:
AB + CD ⟶ AD + CB
When we were assigned this lab, we were told that we had to produce 2.00g of barium sulfate. We chose to use barium nitrate (Ba(NO3)2) and lithium sulfate (Li2SO4). In order to be sure that these compounds would be safe to combine, we did some research on them. We found that when handling barium nitrate, we needed to be equipped with chemical gloves and goggles. We also found that this compound was toxic and needed to be used in the fume hood. We also needed to perform disposal method 27h, which meant we just had to give it to our teacher. While using the
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The lithium sulfate also looked white and powdery. The two reactants looked almost the same. When the reactants were diluted in the water, they dissolved completely and had no visible effect on the water. However, as soon as we combined the two reactants, the solution turned milky-white almost immediately. We let the solution sit for 24 hours and also observed it when we returned to class. The solid had settled on the bottom and was a brilliant white color while the liquid was a murky-white color. After the solution was filtered, the precipitate on the top was a brilliant white color and looked powdery. The liquid filtered out in the flasks was clear and looked like