Core Practical 2: Determination of the enthalpy change of a

reaction using Hess’s Law

Objective
● To calculate the molar enthalpy change for two reactions and use Hess’s Law to determine the
enthalpy change for the reactions
Safety
● Wear eye protection.
● Avoid skin contact with the reactants and products.
Maths skills

● Understand and use the symbols: =, <, <<, >>, >, ∝, ~ and ⇌.
● Substitute numerical values into algebraic equations using appropriate units for physical
quantities.
● Solve algebraic equations.
Equipment
● two test tubes
● 2 mol dm–3 dilute hydrochloric acid
● solid potassium carbonate
● solid potassium hydrogencarbonate
● thermometer able to read up to 50 °C or more
● polystyrene cup
● 250 cm3 or 400 cm3 beaker
● burette, clamp and stand
● stirring rod
● mass balance (2 d.p.)
● spatula
Procedure
1. Place approximately 3 g of solid potassium carbonate in a test tube. Accurately weigh
the test tube and its contents.
2. Use a burette to dispense 30 cm3 of 2 mol dm–3 hydrochloric acid into a polystyrene
cup, which is supported in a beaker.
3. Measure the temperature of the acid.
4. Gradually add potassium carbonate to the acid, stirring all the time and monitoring the
temperature of the acid.
5. Reweigh the empty test tube.
6. Repeat steps 1–5 using approximately 3.5 g of potassium hydrogencarbonate instead
of the potassium carbonate. This time, record the lowest temperature reached.

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Practical activities have been safety checked but not trialled. Users may need to adapt the risk assessment
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 Analysis of results
1. The equations for the reactions occurring are:
reaction 1: K2CO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → 2KCl(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
reaction 2: KHCO3(s) + HCl(aq) → KCl(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
Calculate the energy change for each reaction in J. (The specific heat capacity of
water is 4.2 J g–1 °C–1.)
2. Calculate the enthalpy change, H, for each reaction in kJ mol–1.
Assume that the hydrochloric acid is in excess.
3. Use your results to calculate the enthalpy change for the thermal decomposition of
potassium hydrogencarbonate:
reaction 3: 2KHCO3(s) → K2CO3(s) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
Learning tips
● You can assume that the heat capacity of the final solution is the same as the heat capacity of
water. The volume of water produced in the reaction is so small it can be ignored.
● For exothermic reactions, the enthalpy change, H, is negative.
● Be careful to use equals signs correctly. It is very easy to end up stating that a negative number
equals a positive number.
Questions
1. Why is it not possible to measure the enthalpy change for the decomposition of
potassium hydrogencarbonate directly?
2. Show that the hydrochloric acid is in excess in both reactions.
3. Draw an energy level diagram for each reaction: 1, 2 and 3.
4. Explain why the reactions are conducted in a polystyrene cup rather than a glass
beaker.

© Pearson Education Ltd 2018. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free.
Practical activities have been safety checked but not trialled. Users may need to adapt the risk assessment
information to local circumstances. 2
 Exam-style questions
1. The enthalpy change for the formation of calcium carbonate cannot be determined
directly.
Ca(s) + C(graphite) + 1 1 O2(g) → CaCO3(s)
2
A student performs the following two experiments:
Experiment 1
● The student pours 100 cm3 of 0.025 mol dm–3 hydrochloric acid into a polystyrene cup.
● They measure the temperature of the acid.
● They add 1.00 g of calcium to the hydrochloric acid.
● They measure the final temperature of the solution.
● The temperature increases by 25.0 °C
reaction 1: Ca(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CaCl2(aq) + H2(g)

Experiment 2
● The student pours 100 cm3 of 0.025 mol dm–3 hydrochloric acid into a polystyrene cup.
● They measure the temperature of the acid.
● They add 1.00 g of powdered calcium carbonate to the hydrochloric acid.
● They measure the final temperature of the solution.
● The temperature increases by 0.8 °C
reaction 2: CaCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
(a) Calculate the molar enthalpy change, ∆H, for each reaction.

(6)
(b) The enthalpy of combustion of hydrogen is –286 kJ mol–1 and the enthalpy of
combustion of carbon (graphite) is –364 kJ mol–1.

Use the enthalpy of combustion data, your answer to part (a) and the above Hess
cycle to calculate the enthalpy of formation of calcium carbonate.
(2)
(c) Identify the major source of error in this experiment.
(1)

© Pearson Education Ltd 2018. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free.
Practical activities have been safety checked but not trialled. Users may need to adapt the risk assessment
information to local circumstances. 3