Hi everyone, I am working on my the synthesis of alumAnd now I am just not so sure of the fact that if in the process, we don't cut the aluminum sample into small pieces, but rather left it as one large piece; then will this oversight affect the % yield of alum afterwards? My opinion is that it won't affect the % yield of alum at allAnd could anyone know about this stuff please help me out! I need an accurate answer! I'm seriously working on this labAnd please also tell me why it won't affect the % yield of alum, of if it does affect, will the % yield of alum be too high or too low? Thank you very much!
Bran flakes for breakfast, celery sticks with lunch and some good dark greens or broccoli with dinner.
Alum is aluminum sulfateAluminum reacts with sulfuric acid to produce alumWhile the reaction is faster with smaller pieces of aluminum (more surface area to react act), the yield will not be affected as long as there is sufficient sulfuric acid to complete the reaction (even then, the shape and size of the aluminum would not have an appreciable effect)If you reallllllly want to get into the most picky detail, the aluminum oxide surface layer may not react with the acid, thus favoring the larger piece, which has less oxide on itThis would be an issue only for the most tedious and ridiculous big-time researchIf you are asking this question, then this is certainly not an issue for your synthesis, although raising the issue might get you extra pointsSo basically it won't affect the yield to the extent you could possibly measure due to the fact that it all reactsThere are a few other things that affect yield such as how well you crystallize the prepared alum and wash the reaction vessel, etcThis has nothing to do with the size of the chunckGood luckThis is an easy lab, don't stress out too muchYour yield, like everyone else's will probably suck.
