Activity 8: Thermochemistry and Calorimetry

Thermochemistry is the study of the heat energy involved in changes of physical state and chemical
reactions. Heat energy is spontaneously transferred from hotter to colder substances. The First Law of
Thermodynamics (Law of Conservation of Energy) states that the total energy of the universe must remain
constant. In other words, the heat lost by a system (-q) is equal to the heat gained by the surroundings (+
q). Thus, the two are numerically equal but opposite in direction (sign); -q of the system = + q of the
surroundings.

The standard S.I. unit for heat energy is the joule (J). It takes 4.184 joules (1 calorie) to raise the
temperature of one gram of water by 1° C. The quantity of heat needed to raise the temperature of one
gram of a substance one degree Celsius is known as the specific heat (S). The heat of fusion is the quantity
of heat needed to melt one gram of a solid. When a solid dissolves in water, the amount of heat associated
with it is called heat of solution. All acid-base reactions involve the transfer of an H+ ion (which is a proton)
from the acid to the base and the heat absorbed or evolved in the process is known as heat of
neutralization.

The measurement of the heat absorbed or evolved in chemical reactions is called calorimetry and the
apparatus used for measurement is the calorimeter. A very simple calorimeter can be made from
Styrofoam cups. Styrofoam is a very good heat insulator thus a Styrofoam calorimeter can absorb only a
very small amount of heat produced in a reaction and so very little heat is transmitted to the surroundings.
The simple calorimeter is very convenient for measuring heat evolved in reactions carried out in dilute
aqueous solutions. Almost all the heat evolved in the reactions goes to raise the temperature of the
solution. The heat evolved can be calculated from the change in temperature.

PROCEDURE:

I. Heats of Reaction – Hess’ Law

In this experiment you will determine and compare the quantity of heat energy released in three
exothermic chemical reactions.

Reaction 1. Solid sodium hydroxide dissolves in water to form an aqueous solution of ions
NaOH(s) → Na+(aq) + OH-(aq) + x1 kJ

Reaction 2. Solid sodium hydroxide reacts with an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride to form water
and an aqueous solution of sodium chloride.
NaOH(s) + H+(aq) + Cl-(aq) → H2O(l) + Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq) + x2 kJ

Reaction 3. An aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide reacts with an aqueous solution f hydrogen chloride
to form water and an aqueous solution of sodium chloride.
Na+(aq) + OH-(aq) + H+(aq) + Cl-(aq) → H2O(l) + Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq) + x3 kJ

Go to https://media.pearsoncmg.com/bc/bc_0media_chem/chem_sim/calorimetry/Calor.php for a
simulation of a calorimeter. Click the tab “Experiment” and “Run Demonstration” for instructions on how
to run the calorimeter. After the demonstration, click “Run Experiment.”
Reaction 1

1. Open the Solids menu under the beaker and select Sodium Hydroxide – NaOH. Using the Mass
slider, set the amount of solid inside the beaker to 1 g. Record the initial temperature. Click Next.
2. Open the Liquids menu under the calorimeter and select water – H2O. Using the Mass slider, set
the amount of water inside the calorimeter to 100 grams. Record the initial temperature. Click
Next.
3. Click “Show graph view” and/or “Show microscopic view” before clicking Start. Record the highest
temperature.
4. Click Reset to start a new experiment.

Reaction 2

1. Open the Solids menu under the beaker and select Sodium Hydroxide – NaOH. Using the Mass
slider, set the amount of solid inside the beaker to 1 g. Record the initial temperature. Click Next.
2. Open the Solutions menu under the calorimeter and select Hydrochloric acid – HCl. Using the
slider, set the amount of acid inside the calorimeter to 100 mL and the Molarity to be 0.50 M.
Record the initial temperature. Click Next.
3. Click “Show graph view” and/or “Show microscopic view” before clicking Start. Record the highest
temperature.

Reaction 3

1. Open the Solutions menu under the beaker and select Sodium Hydroxide – NaOH. Using the slider,
set the volume of base inside the beaker to 50.0 mL and the Molarity to be 1.0 M. The default
initial temperature is 20°C. Click Next.
2. Open the Solutions menu under the calorimeter and select Hydrochloric acid – HCl. Using the
slider, set the volume of acid inside the calorimeter to 50.0 mL and the Molarity to be 1.0 M. The
default initial temperature is 20°C. Click Next.
3. Click “Show graph view” and/or “Show microscopic view” before clicking Start. Record the highest
temperature.

II. Determining the Heat of Reaction in Liquids and Solutions

1. Create a solution made from two different liquids such that when you mix equal amounts
together, the resulting solution has a final temperature of 50 ± 1°C. Use any liquid in the Liquids
menu under the beaker and set desired mass and temperature. For the second liquid under the
calorimeter, choose Water and set desired mass and temperature. The mass for both liquids
should be the same.
2. Create a mixture made from two solutions such that when you mix equal amounts together, the
resulting solution has a final temperature of 40 ± 1°C. Use any solution in the Solutions menu
under the beaker and calorimeter and set desired volume and molarity. The volumes of both
solutions should be the same.
III. Determining Heat of Neutralization

1. Open the Solutions menu under the beaker and select Sodium Hydroxide – NaOH. Using the slider,
set the volume of base inside the beaker to 50.0 mL and the Molarity to be 1.0 M. The default
initial temperature is 20°C. Click Next.
2. Open the Solutions menu under the calorimeter and select Hydrochloric acid – HCl. Using the
slider, set the volume of acid inside the calorimeter to 50.0 mL and the Molarity to be 1.0 M. The
default initial temperature is 20°C. Click Next.
3. Click “Show graph view” and/or “Show microscopic view” before clicking Start. Record the highest
temperature.

IV. Measuring the Heat Capacity of an Engine Coolant

For this activity, go to http://chemcollective.org/vlab/92.

 1. If the Virtual Lab does not open, click “Introductory Video and Support Information” then refresh
the page.
2. All the information needed for this activity is found when you click “Coolant 1” (encircled).
3. Design an experiment to measure the heat capacity of Compound Y. Get all solutions, glassware,
and tools in the Stockroom. The foam cup is found under “Other” of Glassware. You can add them
at the workbench by clicking the item or clicking the + icon. Once in the workbench, its
volume/mass and temperature will be indicated. When you right-click each item, a pop-up menu
appears and more options are available.
4. Measuring mass: Place a container on the balance so it registers a mass then click the “Tare”
button. This resets the scale to zero and will automatically subtract the mass of the container
from the measurement.
5. Measuring Volume/Pouring Liquid: Let us take for example you want to transfer 50.0 mL of water
on to the graduated cylinder. Drag the carboy of water on to the graduated cylinder (up to its
base) until a transfer textbar will appear. Enter “50.0” and click pour. You will notice that the
graduated cylinder reads 50.0 mL. This is the same for pouring a liquid from a flask to another
container.
6. To assume that no heat is lost to the environment, you must “insulate” the glassware. Right-click
a glassware and select “Thermal Properties.” Check the box labeled “insulated from
surroundings.” The temperature of that solution in that glassware will remain constant. You can
also use “Thermal Properties” box to set the temperature of a solution.

DATA AND RESULTS

I. Heats of Reaction – Hess’ Law

* The change in temperature that occurs for each reaction will be used to calculate the energy released
in kilojoules per mole of sodium hydroxide used. We can assume for our calculations that any heat
transferred to the calorimeter and surrounding air will be negligible, the specific heat of water is 4.18
J/g°C. Since HCl and NaOH are dilute solutions, assume that their density is 1.00 g/mL.

*Molarity (M) = mol/L

Reaction 1:
Mass of Mass of Initial Final Heat (q), kJ Moles of Molar Enthalpy of
Water, g NaOH, g Temperature, °C Temperature, °C NaOH, mol Reaction (ΔHrxn),
kJ/mol NaOH

Reaction 2:
Mass of 0.5 Mass of Initial Final Heat (q), kJ Moles of Molar Enthalpy of
M HCl, g NaOH, g Temperature, °C Temperature, °C NaOH, mol Reaction (ΔHrxn),
kJ/mol NaOH

Reaction 3:
Mass of 1.0 Mass of 1.0 Initial Final Heat (q), kJ Moles of Molar Enthalpy of
M HCl, g M NaOH, g Temperature, °C Temperature, °C NaOH, mol Reaction (ΔHrxn),
kJ/mol NaOH
 1. Show calculation for the moles of NaOH.
2. Show calculation for mass of HCl.
3. Show solutions for the calculation of Heat (q) in kJ for each reaction.
4. Show solutions for the calculation of Molar Enthalpy of Reaction (ΔHrxn) in kJ/mol NaOH for each
reaction.
5. Write the net ionic equations with the heat evolved (thermochemical equation) for Reactions 1,
2, and 3 at the heading of each table.
6. Suppose you had used 4.00 grams of NaOH(s) in Reaction 1. What would have been the number
of Joules released in the reaction? What effect would this have on the value of x1?

II. Determining the Heat of Reaction in Liquids and Solutions

Enthalpy is a state function. Describe your complete procedure (e.g. liquids and solutions you used,
etc.) and the key quantities you measured to reach the final state (50 ± 1 °C and 40 ± 1 °C) for both
experiments. Preferably step-by-step or in bullet form. Give sufficient detail in such a way that your
actions can be reproduced.

III. Determining Heat of Neutralization

1. Is the reaction endothermic or exothermic?

2. What is the heat of neutralization of the mixture (ΔHneut)? Show all calculations. Do not forget to
put the appropriate sign – negative for exothermic, positive for endothermic.
3. If the concentration of the acid and base is both 0.5 M, would the value of ΔHneut change? Explain.

IV. Measuring the Heat Capacity of an Engine Coolant

1. Describe in detail how you determined experimentally the heat capacity of Compound Y.
2. Is the heat capacity of Compound Y higher or lower than ethylene glycol’s heat capacity of 2.200
J/g°C. Show calculations for determining the specific heat of Compound Y.
3. Which is the more effective engine coolant – ethylene glycol or Compound Y? Explain your answer
with a maximum of two sentences only.