Chemical Reaction Experiment with Marble Chips and Hydrochloric Acid

The Importance of Keeping the Stopcock Open and Replacing the Stopper

Ensuring Gas Collection: By keeping the stopcock open, the experiment allows the gas produced in the reaction between hydrochloric acid and marble chips to escape into the syringe or collection apparatus. This enables precise measurements of the volume of carbon dioxide released during the reaction. Without this step, it would be challenging to accurately quantify the amount of gas produced.

Prevention of Gas Loss and Safety:

Preventing Gas Loss: Immediately replacing the stopper and syringe assembly after opening the stopcock helps prevent gas loss. Any delay in sealing the system could result in the escape of gas, leading to inaccurate results and affecting the outcome of the experiment.

Safety Concerns: Keeping the stopcock open and replacing the stopper promptly also contributes to maintaining safety in the laboratory. By allowing gas to escape as intended, the risk of pressure build-up inside the Erlenmeyer flask is minimized, reducing the potential for accidents or explosions due to excessive pressure.

Ensuring Reliable and Controlled Experimentation:

Accurate Data Collection: The combination of keeping the stopcock open and promptly sealing the system ensures the reliable execution of the experiment. This process allows for accurate data collection, essential for analyzing the reaction between the marble chips and hydrochloric acid effectively.

Overall, ensuring the stopcock is in the open position and replacing the stopper immediately after adding hydrochloric acid to the marble chips in the Erlenmeyer flask is crucial for achieving precise gas measurements, maintaining safety, and obtaining accurate data during the chemical reaction experiment.