Rhoshauna Stephen

Title: Atomic theory

Aim: To draw a conclusion about the mass or size of potassium permanganate (KMnO₄)
particles using the results of a laboratory procedure.

Introduction:
The atomic theory is one of the first modern atomic theories o the nature of matter. It states that
all matter is made up of atoms, which are tiny, indivisible, indestructible units. According to
Dalton’s theory, all substances and matter are made up of atoms and while the atoms of one
element are all the same size and mass other elements have atoms of different sizes and masses.
This theory also states that atoms cannot be created or destroyed and thus atoms are rearranged
in chemical reactions.

Diagram:

Materials:
• 250ml volumetric flask
• 1000ml volumetric flask
• Pipette
• White tile
• 0.4g Potassium Permanganate (KMnO₄)
• water

Method:
1. Apparatus was set up as instructed.
2. 0.4g – 0.0001g potassium permanganate KMnO₄ was dissolved in 1000cm³ aqueous
solution.
3. 10.0cm – 1cm³ of the first solution was pipetted into the 250cm³ aqueous solution and
mixed to dissolve.
4. 10.0cm – 1cm³ of the second solution was pipetted not the 250cm³ aqueous solution and
mixed to dissolve.
5. 10.0cm – 1cm³ of the third solution was pipetted not the 250cm³ aqueous solution and
mixed to dissolve. The solution was fully diluted.
6. Observations and results were recorded.
Rhoshauna Stephen

Observations:
In the trial pf the experiment, 0.4 – 0.0001g potassium permanganate was dissolved in the
aqueous solution. This resulted in dark purple solution. In the second trial, 10.0 – 1cm of the first
solution resulted in a pink colour. In the third trial, the solution has a faint pink colour then
turned completely colourless in the last trial.

Results:

Procedure Colour between cm³ Resulting Resulting

Dissolve 0.4 –
0.0001g KMnO₄ to Yes 0.0004 0.00253
1000cm³ aqueous
solution

Pipette 10.0 –
0.1cm³ of the first Yes 0.0000016 0.0001012
solution and dissolve
to 250cm³ aqueous
solution

Pipette 10.0 –
0.1cm³ of the second Yes 6.4 x 10 ¯7 4.048 x 10¯6
solution and dissolve
to 250cm³ aqueous
solution

Further dilution No --- ---

Table showing concentration of solutions after dilution.

Treatment of results:
Concentration (g/cm³)
𝑛
M= 𝑣

M= 0.4g/1000cm³
M= 0.0004g/cm³

M= M₁ x V₁/V₂
M=0.0004g x 10/250cm³
M= 0.000016g/cm³

M= M₁ x V₁/V₂
M= 0.000016 x 10/250cm³
M= 6.4 x 10 ¯7g/cm³

Concentration (mol/dm³)
1dm³ = 1000cm³

𝑚
N= 𝑚𝑚

N= 0.4g/ 158.04gmol¯¹
N= 0.00253mol/1dm³
N= 0.00253moldm¯³

M₂= M₁ x V₁ / V₂
M₂= 0.00253moldm¯³ x 10cm³ / 250cm³
M₂= 0.00253moldm¯³ x 0.04
M₂= 0.0001012moldm¯³

M= M₁ x V₁ / V₂
Rhoshauna Stephen

= 0.0001012moldm¯³ x 10cm³ / 250cm³

Discussion:
The atomic theory states that all matter is composed of discreate units called atoms. As compared
to the obsolete notion that matter can be divided into any arbitrarily small quantity. It began as a
philosophical concept in ancient Greece and India and entered the scientific mainstream in the
early 19th century when scientists found it could explain the behaviors of gases and how chemical
elements reacted with each other. The word “atom” comes from the ancient Greek word Atomos,
which means indivisible.
Dalton's atomic theory was the first complete attempt to describe all matter in terms of atoms and
their properties. Dalton based his theory on the law of conservation of mass and the law of
constant composition.
In this experiment, 0.4g of KMnO₄ was continuously diluted in 250ml of water to deduce the
solubility of the chemical. In the first trial, the KMnO₄ solution was a dark purple and in the
second it was reduced to a pink colour. Next, a faint pink colour and kept fainting till it became
colourless. This proves that KMnO₄ is indeed soluble in water given that it’s colour change was
seen. Three chemical properties of potassium permanganate are: its solubility in acetone, water,
pyridine, methanol and acetic acid. Readily soluble in inorganic solvents. Rich purple colour in
concentrated solution and pink colour in dilute solution.
Fick’s law of diffusion states that the movement of particles from a region of high concentration
to a low concentration region is directly proportional to the magnitude of the concentration
gradient of the substance. When an increases volume of water was added to KMnO₄ the rate of
diffusion increased as the difference in concentration gradient was high. The concept of dilution
is to decrease the concentration of the solute in a solution. The water was used as a solvent to the
KMnO₄ solution and with the constant mixing it allowed the KMnO₄ particles to diffuse
throughout the H₂O molecules.

Precautions:
1. Ensure the measurements of KMnO₄ solution and distilled water were read correctly to
increase accuracy.
Rhoshauna Stephen

2. Laboratory equipment used were rinsed thoroughly with water before the experiment to
prevent contamination.
3. Ensure every drop of KMnO₄ is mixed correctly into the distilled water to improve
diffusion rate.

Sources of Error:
1. Uncoordinated mixing
2. Incorrect parallax
3. Contaminated laboratory equipment may corrupt the entire experiment.

Recommendations:
1. Increased temperature so that the rate of reaction can be at an optimal level.
2. Use a decreased concentration of KMnO₄ to increase the diffusion rate.
3. Ensure the bottom of the meniscus rests on the required measurement line for more
accurate readings.

Conclusion:
Based on the results and calculations collected and done from this experiment, it was proven
that when potassium permanganate particles diffuse into water, they interact with water
molecules and evenly spread out, reducing their concentration in specific areas or regions and
causing a decrease in their mass or size compared to the initial concentration of the solution.