Which of the following statements is a reasonable explanation for why a percent yield may be less than 100%
for the synthesis of the alum, select all that apply.
a) The aluminium foil did not completely react
b) Some alum sample remained in the beaker and was not transferred to the filter paper
c) The alum sample was not dried completely in the oven
d) The aluminium foil had a large amount of non aluminium impurities
I would go with a and b.
\
To determine why a percent yield may be less than 100% for the synthesis of alum, we can analyze each statement and see if they are reasonable explanations.
a) The aluminium foil did not completely react: This statement is a reasonable explanation for a percent yield being less than 100%. If the aluminium foil did not completely react, the reaction would not go to completion, resulting in a lower yield of alum.
b) Some alum sample remained in the beaker and was not transferred to the filter paper: This statement is also a reasonable explanation. If some of the alum sample is left behind in the beaker and not transferred to the filter paper, it would not be collected in the final product, leading to a lower yield.
c) The alum sample was not dried completely in the oven: This statement is another reasonable explanation. If the alum sample was not dried completely, there may still be residual moisture present in the final product, contributing to a lower yield.
d) The aluminium foil had a large amount of non-aluminium impurities: This statement is also a reasonable explanation. If the aluminium foil used in the synthesis process has a large amount of non-aluminium impurities, these impurities may interfere with the reaction or result in the formation of byproducts, leading to a lower yield of alum.
In conclusion, all of the provided statements (a, b, c, and d) are reasonable explanations for why a percent yield may be less than 100% for the synthesis of alum.