Silver plating:
A student attempts the process of silver plating to determine the mass of a silver atom.
a series of objects are measured, then electroplated for a measure period of time, while maintaining a steady current through a solution of silver nitrate in tap water. After allowing the object to dry they measure the new mass of the object
The student noted down the results and drew a line of best fit then wrote down the result for a a single silver atom.
The accepted mass for a silver atom is 1.80 X 10^-25.
The student got -1.9.
The students value was much higher than the accepted value.
Evaluate the experiment stating potential sources which may account for any differences int he values.
Im really stuck please help.
As physics - bobpursley Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 9:59am
"tap water"
but more likely, what are the units for the accepted and the measured?
As physics - cylinder Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 10:05am
I dont know it doesnt say but those are the 2 values for a single silver atom if that helps you figure out the units.
As physics - bobpursley Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 10:30am
No, I know the units, the point is you don't know the units.
Google "tap water". What is in tap water? What are the pipes made of? Are you in an alkaline water area? and if so, what is alkaline water? The point is, silver nitrate added to "tap water" is not just a solution of silver nitrate. pH is likely another concern.
It should have been added to distilled water.
As physics - cylinder Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 11:46am
1)
Tap water is water supplied to a tap. Its uses include drinking, washing, cooking, and the flushing of toilets.
2)
Today, most plumbing supply pipe is made out of steel, copper, and plastic; most waste (also known as "soil") out of steel, copper, plastic, and cast iron. The straight sections of plumbing systems are called "pipes" or "tubes".
3)couldnt find
4)The pH level is a number that measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is on a scale of 0 to 14. ... Alkaline water has a higher pH level than regular drinking water. Because of this, some advocates of alkaline water believe it can neutralize the acid in your body. Normal drinking water generally has a neutral pH of 7.
Is this the sorta stuff i should write?
As physics - cylinder Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 11:49am
nothing comes up useful when i write:why is the mass of a silver atom higher than expected
and im not sure what to write please help me more
As physics - cylinder Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 11:53am
Lead pipes. For many centuries, water pipes were made of lead, because of its ease of processing and durability. ... Most of the lead pipes that exist today are being removed and replaced with the more common material, copper or some type of plastic.
As physics - cylinder Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 11:54am
I dont know what to link or write to answer the question, i did your research task but am still confused
As physics - cylinder Friday, January 5, 2018 at 11:09am
So is all this what i should right? i dunt know which bit is relevant as so much stuff comes up and i dont know what to link and what is required of me to write, now that i have given it a go could you please help
So what are the units of 1.80 X 10^-25?
1.9? kg, g, slugs, what?
You said:
"tap water"
but more likely, what are the units for the accepted and the measured?
I said:
I dont know it doesnt say but those are the 2 values for a single silver atom if that helps you figure out the units.
you said:
No, I know the units, the point is you don't know the units.
Does that help you to help me hopefully?
In the given experiment, the student attempted to determine the mass of a silver atom through silver plating. The process involved measuring the objects, electroplating them in a solution of silver nitrate in tap water, and then measuring the new mass of the objects after they had dried.
The accepted mass for a silver atom is stated as 1.80 x 10^-25. However, the student obtained a value of -1.9, which is significantly higher than the accepted value. To evaluate the experiment and understand the potential sources of error, we need to consider a few factors.
Firstly, the use of tap water in the experiment could introduce impurities or variations in the concentration of silver nitrate solution. Tap water may contain minerals, chemicals, or other substances that could affect the plating process and, consequently, the measured mass of the silver atom.
Additionally, the composition of the pipes used to deliver the tap water can also be a source of error. Historically, lead pipes were commonly used, and the presence of lead in the water could introduce additional contaminants and influence the plating process. Although lead pipes are being replaced with copper or plastic in many areas, it's still important to consider the material of the pipes used.
Furthermore, factors such as pH level and alkalinity of the tap water should be taken into account. Tap water can have varying pH levels and alkaline properties, which may affect the plating process and thus impact the measured mass of the silver atom.
Considering all these potential sources of error, it becomes clear that using tap water in the experiment might not provide an accurate representation of the actual mass of a silver atom. Distilled water, free from impurities and variations in composition, would have been a better choice for the experiment. Distilled water provides a more controlled environment and helps minimize potential sources of error.
To address the question of why the student obtained a value higher than the accepted mass of a silver atom, you can mention that the use of tap water introduces uncertainties and impurities into the experiment. These factors may have influenced the plating process and resulted in a higher measured mass.
In conclusion, the discrepancies in the experiment's results can be attributed to the use of tap water, which introduces impurities and variable factors into the plating process. To improve accuracy, it is recommended to conduct similar experiments using distilled water instead.