The method of continuous variation: A laboratory investigation of the formula of a precipitate

摘要

The method of continuous variation is applied to the reaction between barium chloride and diammonium hydrogen phosphate in neutral, acidic, and basic conditions. Depending on the medium, barium dihydrogen phosphate, barium hydrogen phosphate, or barium phosphate is precipitated. The precipitates are washed, dried, and weighed. Construction of a continuous variation plot for each condition leads to the deduction of the molecular formula of the phosphate precipitated. This experiment demonstrates the concept of stoichiometric relationships between ions in the formation of compounds and serves to give students practice in calculations involving limiting reagents.