Making Salts (RP)

Question 1

What is the method for making salts

Answer 1

1. use a measuring cylinder to add 40 cm^3 of sulphuric acid in a beaker
2. gently heat the beaker for a couple of seconds
3. carefully add a spatula of copper oxide powder to the beaker and stir the solution with a glass rod
4. keep adding more copper oxide powder until it no longer dissolves (add in excess)
5. filter the mixture to remove the excess copper oxide, then pour the filtrate (the copper sulfate solution) into an evaporating basin
6. place the evaporating basin above a beaker of boiling water, and heat the copper sulfate solution to evaporate most of the water
7. Let them cool (this forms the crystals), filter and dry them on filter paper

Question 2

What are some sources of error:

Answer 2

Measurement error
Random error

Question 3

What are the variables

Answer 3

Independent: Amount of copper oxide added
Dependent: Amount of copper sulfate crystals formed
Control-Volume of sulfuric acid, Temperature of the solution