Laboratory Manual for Principles of General Chemistry 11 Edition covers two semesters of a general chemistry laboratory program. The material focuses on the lab experiences that reinforce the concepts that not all experimental conclusions are the same and depend on identifying an appropriate experimental procedure, selecting the proper apparatus, employing the proper techniques, systematically analyzing and interpreting the data, and minimizing  inherent variables. As a result of “good” data, a scientific and analytical conclusion is made which may or may not “be right,” but is certainly consistent with the data. 

Experiments write textbooks, textbooks don’t write experiments.

A student’s scientific literacy grows when experiences and observations associated with the scientific method are encountered. Further experimentation provides additional “cause & effect” observations leading to an even better understanding of the experiment.

The 11th edition’s experiments are informative and challenging while offering a solid foundation for technique, safety, and experimental procedure. The reporting and analysis of the data and the pre- and post-lab questions focus on the intuitiveness of the experiment.

The experiments may accompany any general chemistry textbook and are compiled at the beginning of each curricular unit.

An “Additional Notes” column is included in each experiment’s Report Sheet to provide a space for recording observations and data during the experiment. Continued emphasis on handling data is supported by the “Data Analysis” section.

Preface III

Laboratory Safety and Guidelines 1

Data Documentation 7

Data Analysis 11

Laboratory Techniques and Safety Practices 23

Experiments

Unit Opener 1 Introduction

Dry Lab 1 The Laboratory and SI

Experiment 1 Basic Laboratory Operations

Unit Opener 2 Chemical and Physical Properties

Experiment 2 Identification of a Compound: Chemical Properties

Experiment 3 Water Analysis: Solids

Experiment 4 Percent Water in a Hydrated Salt

Dry Lab 2A Inorganic Nomenclature I. Oxidation Numbers

Dry Lab 2B Inorganic Nomenclature II. Binary Compounds

Dry Lab 2C Inorganic Nomenclature III. Ternary Compounds

Experiment 5 Acids, Bases, and Salts

Unit Opener 3 Atomic and Molecular Structure

Experiment 6 Periodic Table and Periodic Law

Dry Lab 3 Atomic and Molecular Structure

Unit Opener 4 Mole Concept

Experiment 7 Empirical Formulas

Experiment 8 Limiting Reactant

Experiment 9 A Volumetric Analysis

Experiment 10 Vinegar Analysis

Unit Opener 5 Molar Mass of Gases and Solute

Experiment 11 Molar Mass of a Volatile Liquid

Experiment 12 A Carbonate Analysis; Molar Volume of Carbon Dioxide

Experiment 13 Molar Mass of a Solid

Unit Opener 6 Kinetics and Equilibrium Constant

Experiment 14 Factors Affecting Reaction Rates

Experiment 15 A Rate Law and Activation Energy

Experiment 16 An Equilibrium Constant

Unit Opener 7 Acid-Base Equilibrium and Analysis

Experiment 17 LeChâtelier’s Principle; Buffers

Experiment 18 Antacid Analysis

Experiment 19 Potentiometric Analyses

Experiment 20 Alkalinity of a Water Resource

Experiment 21 Hard Water Analysis

Experiment 22 Molar Solubility, Common-Ion Effect

Unit Opener 8 Thermodynamics

Experiment 23 Calorimetry

Experiment 24 Thermodynamics of the Dissolution of Borax

Unit Opener 9 Oxidation-Reduction Systems and Analysis

Experiment 25 Oxidation–Reduction Reactions

Experiment 26 Chemistry of Copper

Experiment 27 Bleach Analysis

Experiment 28 Vitamin C Analysis

Experiment 29 Dissolved Oxygen Levels in Natural Waters

Experiment 30 Galvanic Cells, the Nernst Equation

Experiment 31 Electrolytic Cells, Avogadro’s Number

Unit Opener 10 Metal Double Salts and Complexes

Experiment 32 Synthesis of Potassium Alum

Experiment 33 Transition Metal Complexes

Unit Opener 11 Qualitative Analysis

Experiment 34 Aspirin Synthesis and Analysis

Experiment 35 Paper Chromatography

Experiment 36 Spectrophotometric Metal Ion Analysis

Dry Lab 4 Preface to Qualitative Analysis

Experiment 37 Qual: Common Anions

Experiment 38 Qual I. Na+, K+, NH4+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cu2+

Experiment 39 Qual II. Ni2+, Fe3+, Al3+, Zn2+

Appendixes

Appendix A Conversion Factors

Appendix B Familiar Names of Common Chemicals

Appendix C Vapor Pressure of Water

Appendix D Concentrations of Acids and Bases

Appendix E Water Solubility of Inorganic Salts