Caroline Smith

Introduction
The system is the part that is being studied. The surroundings are everything else. If the
system releases heat, then the surroundings absorbed heat. If the system absorbs heat, then the
surroundings will release heat. H and qsys are not the same because H has to do with the molar
amounts that are given by the coefficients in the chemical reaction, and qsys has to do with the
amounts actually used in the experiment. H can be found using the following equation.
coefficent
qsys
H rxn
=
moles balanced reaction

mols reactant used

In this experiment a calorimeter was set up, and one part NaClO and Na2SO3 solutions
were put in the calorimeter, and in the second part NaOH and HCl solutions were put in
calorimeter. The temperature was taken every ten seconds while the reaction was occurring until
it went down two consecutive times, and this was repeated four times for both parts. It was found
that both of the reactions were exothermic. The reaction for the first part of the experiment is
NaClO (aq) + Na2SO3(aq) NaCl (aq) + Na2SO4 (aq). In this reaction the system is the reactants
NaClO and Na2SO3. The surroundings are the products, excess reactants, and the calorimeter.
The reaction for the second part of the experiment is
HCl (aq) + NaOH (aq) H2O (l) + NaCl (aq). For both parts of the experiment the experimental
H value was less than the theoretical H value calculated.
Procedure
Two styrofoam cups were obtained along with a lid. The smaller cup was placed inside
the bigger one to make a calorimeter. Next 1.581 grams of Na2SO3 was measured out into a
beaker. 25 mL of water was then added to the beaker, and mixed until everything was dissolved

Caroline Smith
to make a Na2SO3 solution. That solutions was then poured into the calorimeter, and the
temperature was taken and found to be 21.7 C.
Then 10.54 mL of bleach was measured out into a graduated cylinder, and was filled the
rest of the way to 25 mL with water. The temperature was then taken of the bleach solution, and
found to be 21.3 C. The bleach solution was then poured into the calorimeter with the Na2SO3
solution. The lid was placed on the calorimeter quickly along with the thermometer. The solution
was mixed with the thermometer, and every 10 seconds the temperature was recorded until it
went down two consecutive times. Materials were cleaned and the procedure was repeated three
more times. Each student was required to do only one part of the experiment, so part two was not
recorded. The results for part two of this experiment were gotten from Maeleigh Tidd.
Results
Part 1:
Trial 1
0.0125
0.0125
18.8
26.75
1976.4
620.4
-2596.8
-207.7
2.104
-345
39.8%

Moles Na2SO3 reacted

Moles NaClO reacted
Maximum T (C)
Mass of Product Solution (g)
qsoln (J)
qcal (J)
qsys (J)
Experimental Hrxn (kJ)
% relative standard deviation
Theoretical H rxn (kJ)
Percent Error

Trial 2
0.0125
0.0125
19.6
26.75
2060.5
646.8
-2707.3
-216.6
2.104
-345
37.2%

Calculations:
Mass of product solution = 25 ml

qsoln = ( 18.8 ) 3.93

1.07 g
=26.75 g
ml

J
g
( 25 ml ) 1.07
=1976.4 J
g
ml

Trial 3
0.0125
0.0125
19.05
26.75
2002.7
628.7
-2631.4
-210.5
2.104
-345
39.0%

Trial 4
0.0125
0.0125
19.6
26.75
2060.5
646.8
-2707.3
-216.6
2.104
-345
37.2%

Caroline Smith

qcal = ( 18.8 ) 33.0

J
=620.4 J

qsys = (1976.4 J +620.4 J )=2596.8 J

Experimental Hrxn =

2596.8 J
H
=
=207700 J=207.7 kJ
0.0125mol 1 mol

Percent relative standard deviation (did on excel):

relative st .dev .=

st . dev .
4.48
100=
100=2.104
average
212.85

Theoretical Hrxn = (407 kJ 1388 kJ ) (346 kJ +1104 kJ )=345 kJ

Percent error =

|(207.7 kJ )(345 kJ )|
345 kJ

100=39.8

(Hf values found on "Thermodynamics - Chempendix.")

Part 2:

Caroline Smith
Trial 1
0.05
0.05
12.5
26.75
1314.1
412.5
-1726.6
-34.5
3.977
-55.86
38.2%

Moles HCl reacted

Moles NaOH reacted
Maximum T (C)
Mass of Product Solution (g)
qsoln (J)
qcal (J)
qsys (J)
Experimental Hrxn (kJ)
% relative standard deviation
Theoretical H rxn (kJ)
Percent Error

Trial 2
0.05
0.05
13.5
26.75
1419.2
445.5
-1864.7
-37.3
3.977
-55.86
33.2%

Calculations:
Mass of product solution = 25 ml

qsoln = ( 12.5 ) 3.93

qcal = ( 12.5 ) 33.0

1.07 g
=26.75 g
ml

J
g
( 25 ml ) 1.07
=1314.1 J
g
ml

J
=412.5 J

qsys = (1314.1 J + 412.5 J )=1726.6 J

Experimental Hrxn =

1726.6 J H
=
=34500 J =34.5 kJ
0.05mol
1mol

Percent relative standard deviation (did on excel):

relative st .dev .=

st . dev .
1.4
100=
100=3.977
average
35.2

Theoretical Hrxn = (285.8 kJ ) (229.94 kJ + 0 kJ )=55.86 kJ

Percent error =

|(34.5 kJ )(55.86 kJ )|
55.86 kJ

100=38.2

(Hf values found on "Thermodynamics - Chempendix.")

Trial 3
0.05
0.05
12.5
26.75
1314.1
412.5
-1726.6
-34.5
3.977
-55.86
38.2%

Trial 4
0.05
0.05
12.5
26.75
1314.1
412.5
-1726.6
-34.5
3.977
-55.86
38.2%

Caroline Smith
Discussion
Both of the reactions in this experiment are exothermic. This is because in both parts of
the experiment the temperature of the system decreased, and the temperature of the surroundings
increased. These changes in temperature indicate that the reactions are exothermic. On the other
hand, in endothermic reactions the temperature of the system increases, and the temperature of
the surroundings decreases.
The reproducibility of the results for both part one and two of the experiment were
similar. The percent relative standard deviation for part one was 2.104% and for part two it was
3.977%. These percents are fairly close to each other, so compared to each other they had
similar reproducibility.
The accuracy of both parts of the experiment were not very good. For all of the experiments the
percent error was above 30%. One possible source of experimental error could be the solution
was not mixed thoroughly enough with the thermometer when it was pure dint eh calorimeter,
because there was very little room to move the thermometer. This would cause the reaction to not
be fully completed, and if it was the temperature may have been higher, causing a greater change
in temperature. This greater change in temperature would ultimately lead to a lower qsys value,
which would lead to a lower H value. Since all of the experimental H values are higher than
the theoretical H values, this would cause the values to be closer, making the percent error
smaller.
Conclusion
The average experimental H value for part one of the experiment was -212.85 kJ and
the experimental H value for part two of the experiment was -35.2 kJ. The percent relative
standard deviation for part one was 2.104% and for part two was 3.977%. The percent errors for

Caroline Smith
part one were 39.8%, 37.2%, 39.0%, and 37.2%. the percent errors for part two were 38.2%,
33.2%, 38.2%, and 38.2%.
References
"Thermodynamics - Chempendix." SaplingLearning. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.