Exothermic Reaction

1.

Exothermic reaction is the chemical reaction that releases heat to the surrounding.

2.

When energy is given off during a chemical reaction, the temperature of the surrounding will increase.

Example of Exothermic Reaction

Reaction

Equation

Neutralization

Diluted sulphuric acid is neutralized by sodium hydroxide aqueous

H2SO4 + 2NaOH Na2SO4 + 2H2O

Acid + carbonate

Reaction between hydrochloric acid and sodium carbonate

2HCl + Na2CO3 2NaCl + CO2 + H2O

Calcium oxide + water

CaO + H2O Ca(OH)2

Water + dehydrated copper(II)

sulphate

CuSO4 + xH2O CuSO4xH2O

Dissolve NaOH and KOH in

water
NaOH + water Na+ + OHKOH + water K+ + OH-

Reaction between alkali

Sodium + Water

metal (Li/Na/K) and water

2Na + 2H2O 2NaOH + H2

Reaction between reactive

Magnesium + Nitric acid

metal(Mg/Al/Zn/Fe) and diluted

acid
Mg + 2HNO3 Mg(NO3)2 + H2
Combustion

Combustion of methane

CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O

Heat Of Reaction

1.

The Heat of Reaction is the heat absorbed in a reaction at standard state condition between the
numbers of moles of reactants shown in the equation for the reaction.

2.

The Heat of reaction is represented by the symbol H.

3.

The unit of H is kJmol-1.

4.

If the reaction is exothernic, H shows a value of negative. If the reaction is endothernic, H shows a
value of positive.

5.

The 4 heat of reaction that you need to know in the syllabus

a.

Heat of Precipitation
The heat of precipitation of a substance is the heat change when 1 mole of precipitate formed
from its solution of ion under standard state condition.

b.

Heat of Displacement
The Heat of Displacement of an element is the heat change when 1 mole of the element was
displaced from its compound under standard state condition.

c.

Heat of Neutralisation
Heat of neutralisation is the heat change when 1 mol of water is formed by the neutralisation of
hydrogen ions by hydroxide ions with measurements made under standard conditions.

d.

Heat of Combustion
The Heat of Combustion of a substance is the heat energy evolved when 1 mole of the substance
is completely burnt in oxygen.

Example:
In an experiment to find the heat of precipitation of magnesium carbonate, 25 cm of magnesium nitrate 2.0 mol/dm is added
into 25 cm of sodium carbonate solution, 2.0 mol dm in a container. The temperature of the solution decreases by 6C. What is
the heat of precipitation of magnesium carbonate? [Specific heat capacity of the solution = 4.2 Jg -1C-1, density of the solution =1
g/cm ]
Answer:
Step 1: Equation of the reaction
Mg(NO3)2 + Na2CO3 MgCO3 + 2NaNO3

Step 2:
Number of mole of Mg(NO3)2

n=MV1000=(2.0)(25)1000=0.05mol

Number of mole of Na2CO3 solution

n=MV1000=(2.0)(25)1000=0.05mol

Number of mole of magnesium carbonate formed = 0.05mol

Step 3
Amount of heat energy been released
= mc
= (25+25)(4.2)(6)
= 1260J

Step 4
Heat of precipitation of magnesium carbonate

H=Heat ChangeNumber of mole of precipitated formedH=12600.05=25,200Jmol1=25.2kJmol1

Example:
NaOH(aq) + HNO3(aq) NaNO3(aq) + H2O(l)
H = -57 kJ mol-1
An experiment is carried out by adding 25cm of sodium hydroxide 0.5 mol/dm into 25 cm of dilute nitric acid 0.5 mol/dm.
Calculate the temperature change of the mixture. [Specific heat capacity of the solution = = 4.2 Jg -1C-1, density of the solution
=1 g/cm ]
Answer:
Number of mole of NaOH,

n=MV1000n=(0.5)(25)1000=0.0125mol
Number of mole of HNO3,

n=MV1000n=(0.5)(25)1000=0.0125mol
Number of mole of water produced = 0.0125mol
Amount of heat released, Q = 0.0125 x 57,000J = 712.5J
Mass of the solution, m = 25 + 25 = 50 cm
Specific heat capacity of the solution = 4.2 Jg-1C-1
Q = mc
712.5 = 50(4.2)
= 3.4

Example:

A student pours 50cm hydrochloric acid, 2 mol/dm into a plastic beaker, and records its temperature. Some zinc powder
(excess) is added into the acid. The solution is stirred by using a glass rod, and the highest temperature that reach by the
mixture is recorded.

Initial temperature of the solution: 27.0C

Highest temperature of the solution: 57.0C

Find the heat of displacement of the reaction.

[Specific heat capacity of the solution = = 4.2 Jg-1C-1, density of the solution =1 g/cm ]
Answer:
2HCl(ak) + Zn(p) ZnCl2 (ak) + H2(g)

Neutralisation Between Strong Acid And Strong Alkali Vs Weak Acid And
Strong Alkali
1.

Table below shows comparison of the heat of neutralisation of the reaction between "strong acid and strong alkali" and
"weak acid and strong alkali".

Strong Acid and Strong Alkali

Weak Acid and Strong Alkali

HCl + NaOH NaCl + H2O

CH3COOH + NaOH CH3COONa +H2O

H = -57kJ mol-1

H = -55kJ mol-1

H2SO4 + 2KOH K2SO4 + 2H2O

HCN + KOH KCN + H2O

H = -57kJ mol

H = -12kJ mol-1

-1

2HNO3 + Ba(OH)2 Ba(NO3)2 + 2H2O

H = -57kJ mol-1

2.

The heat of neutralisation between strong acid and strong alkali is almost the same (-57kJ mol -1 ) for all acid and all
alkali.

2.

Nevertheless, the heat of neutralisation between weak acid and strong alkali is always less than -57kJ mol -1.

2.

This is because weak acids are partially decomposed.

2.

During the reaction of neutralisation, the acid molecules will be decomposed to form hydrogen ions and react with the
hydroxide ions from alkali.

2.

Part of the heat released during the formation of water molecule is used to decompose the acid to form hydrogen ion.

Temperature Change In The Reaction Involving Change Of Volume Or

Concentration
Altering the Volume of the Solution Without Altering the Concentration
If an experiment is repeated by alter the volume without alter the concentration, the temperature change will remain the same.

Example 1:
When 50 cm of dilute hydrochloric acid 2 mol/dm is added into 50 cm of potassium hydroxide 2 mol/dm, the temperature
increase 13C. What is the temperature increase if 300 cm of dilute hydrochloric acid 2 mol/dm is added into 300 cm of
potassium hydroxide solution 2 mol/dm ?
Answer:
The volume of the reactants are increases by 6 times (300/50) whereas the concentration of the solution remain unchanged.
Therefore the change of the temperature remain the same.
Temperature increase = 13C

Altering the Concentration of the Solution Without Altering the Volume

If an experiment is repeated by alter the concentration by n time without alter the volume of the solution, the
temperature change will be n time of the initial temperature change as well.
Example 2:
In an experiment, 50 cm of lead(II) nitrate solution 0.2 mol/dm is added into 50 cm of sodium carbonate solution 0.2 mol/dm,
the increase of temperature is 2.4C. what is the increase in temperature if 50 cm of lead(II) nitrate solution 0.6 mol/dm is
added into 50 cm of sodium carbonate solution 0.6 mol/dm?
Answer:
The volume of the reactants remain unchanged whereas the concentration of the solution increases by 3 times (0.6/0.2).
Therefore the change of the temperature
= 2.4C x 3 = 7.2C