Greenhouse Gases 1: Experiment 6

NAME: JUSTIN DAVE SERMESE
FRITZIE ARINGO
FRANCIS LASACA
EXPERIMENT 6
GREENHOUSE GASES 1
ABSTRACT:
Our world is getting hotter, and is in high risk of global warming. Climate Change is
getting clearer in different places. That's all because our ozone layer is getting thinner
for the greenhouse gases emission is increasing. In this experiment we learned a
method of capturing greenhouse gases and simulate nitrogen dioxide.
INTRODUCTION:
A greenhouse gas is a gas that absorbs infrared radiation and thus contributes to the
greenhouse effect. Nitrogen dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases in the Earth's
atmosphere. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a type of nitrogen oxide (NOx), a type of air
pollutant produced by combustion processes.
The presence of NO2 in urban outdoor air is primarily due to traffic. NO2 is formed
when nitric oxide (NO) emitted by motor vehicles or other combustion processes
combines with oxygen in the atmosphere. Indoor NO2 is primarily produced by
unvented heaters and gas stoves.
In this experiment, you will use nitric acid and copper to create NO2. It then has the
following reaction:
4 HNO3(aq) + Cu(s) ==> Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 2 NO2(g) + 2 H2O(l)
APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:

Equipment: Erlenmeyer flasks (3), cork (3), beaker (1), watch glass (1), 10 mL
graduated cylinder (1), safety goggles (1), mask (1), gloves (1)
Materials: Copper wire, nitric acid (20 mL), activated carbon (10 g)
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:
We strongly advise you to wear chemical safety glasses, a face shield for splash
protection, gloves, and an approved vapor respirator if adequate ventilation is not
available when working with nitric acid. Eyewash stations and washing facilities should
be easily accessible as an added safety precaution.
When working with nitrogen dioxide, use extreme caution. * Contact can irritate and
burn the skin and eyes, resulting in eye damage. The nose and throat can be irritated by
breathing in Nitrogen Dioxide. Nitrogen Dioxide can irritate the lungs, resulting in
coughing and/or shortness of breath.
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
1. Pour 20 mL of nitric acid and copper wire to Erlenmeyer flask. Immediately cover the
flask with cork.
2. Observe until nitrogen dioxide gas is produced.
3. Transfer some nitrogen gas to the other two flasks. Cover the flasks with cork.
4. Pour 10 g of activated carbon into one of the flasks with nitrogen dioxide. Shake the
two flasks.
METHODOLOGY:
First, we pour 20 mL of nitric acid and copper wire to Erlenmeyer flask. Then, cover
the flask with a cork immediately. Observe what is happening in the experiment, wait
until the nitrogen dioxide gas is produced. After that, we transfer some nitrogen gas to
the other flasks and cover the flasks with cork again. Lastly, we pour 10g of activated
carbon into one flask with nitrogen dioxide before shaking the two flask.
OBSERVATION AND DISCUSSION:

As the copper-nitric acid reaction nears completion, the reaction slows and the flask
cools. Furthermore, the reaction's very soluble NO2 has entered the middle flask, where
it dissolves in the 0.10 M HNO3. The combination of the cooling flask and the dissolving
gas reduces the pressure in the stoppered flasks. This forces the liquid from the open
flask back into the middle flask. The phenolphthalein turns colorless as the red liquid
reacts with the acid. When the liquid in the middle flask is filled, it flows into the flask
containing the copper.
This liquid dilutes the solution of copper nitrate formed by the reaction of copper with
nitric acid. The copper nitrate colors this solution blue. Cu(s) + 4 HNO3(aq) --->
Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 2 NO2(g) + 2 H2O(l).
The solution formed when copper reacts with nitric acid is blue because of the blue
[Cu(H2O)4]2+ ion in solution.
CONCLUSION:
The nitric acid reacted to copper and formed a nitrogen dioxide in maroon vapor.
This is how the greenhouse gases damage our atmosphere, the more greenhouse
gases emitted the more it damages our atmosphere making our ozone layer thinner in
the process.
REFERENCES:
F. Albert Cotton and Geoffrey Wilkinson, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, 5th ed. New
York: John Wiley & Sons, 1988, p. 769-771.
John Emsley, The Elements, 3rd ed. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1998, p. 120-121.
David L. Heiserman, Exploring Chemical Elements and their Compounds. New York:
TAB Books, 1992, p. 118-121.
Martha Windholz (ed.), The Merck Index, 10th ed. Rahway: Merck & Co., Inc., 1983.

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NAME: JUSTIN DAVE SERMESE

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:

OBSERVATION AND DISCUSSION:

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