Exploring the Ideal Gas Law through a Quantitative Gasometric Analysis of Nitrogen Produced by the Reaction of Sodium Nitrite with Sulfamic Acid

Abstract

The gasometric analysis of nitrogen produced in a reaction between sodium nitrite, NaNO2, and sulfamic acid, H(NH2)SO3, provides an alternative to more common general chemistry experiments used to study the ideal gas law, such as the experiment in which magnesium is reacted with hydrochloric acid. This experiment, in which the percent sodium nitrite of a sample is determined with the use of equipment commonly found in a general chemistry laboratory, was first published in 1946, and data culled over the last several years show that modifications to the procedure, specifically replacing a glass vial with a gel capsule, have improved accuracy and precision in this classic laboratory exercise. In addition to the ideal gas law, this experiment provides students with an opportunity to analyze data using principles and concepts that constitute core topics often presented in the first semester of general chemistry, such as stoichiometry, redox equations, Dalton’s law of partial pressures, the vapor pressure of water, and barometric pressure.

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“…To reinforce its concepts, experiments are continuously designed so that students can better understand molar ratios from a practical standpoint. For example, in the past decade, the Journal of Chemical Education published papers on the subject whereby the favorite techniques to ascertain stoichiometric relationships included mainly colorimetry/spectrophotometry, − conductivity, , electrochemistry, − gravimetry, − titrimetry, , gas generation, − thermochemistry/thermal analysis, , − and catalysis …”