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LABORATORY REPORT
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
(471)
1) To compare the heat capacities of a coffee cup calorimeter and a copper calorimeter.
2) To determine the standard enthalpy of formation of magnesium oxide, ∆H°f.
Introduction
Heat can be defined as the energy transfer from one system to another system because
there is differences in the temperature changes of the system and the surroundings. A
calorimeter is used tin a chemical reaction to transfer the heat. The calorimeter prevents the
loss or gain of heat between the surrounding and the calorimeter itself so that we can measure
the amount of heat flow in the system.
We can measure the heat of reaction for a given reaction in kilojoules per mole (kJ mol -1)
by calculating the values of heat of reaction for other reactions. Hess’s Law states that when
reactants are converted to products, the changes in enthalpy has no differences whether there
are single or multiple stages or steps of a reaction
The heat of reaction for the reaction between Magnesium with Hydrochloric Acid and
the reaction between Magnesium Oxide with Hydrochloric Acid will be obtained
experimentally and for the reaction water, the heat of formation can be obtained from the
literature. The heat capacity of the calorimeter can be determined by observing the change of
temperature when a known weight of hot water is mixed with an amount of cold water in the
calorimeter.
Apparatus
1. Thermometer (2)
2. Styrofoam cup with cardboard cover lid (2)
3. Copper calorimeter with insulating cover (1)
4. 100cm3 beaker
5. 100cm3 graduated cylinder
Chemicals
1. 2.0M hydrochloric acid
2. Magnesium oxide powder
3. Magnesium powder
Procedure
RESULT
CALCULATIONS
Copper calorimeter
Coffee calorimeter
∆T = 80°C - 32°C
= 48°C
∆H = 12.038 kJ
0.0413 mol
= 291.477 kJ/mol
Copper calorimeter
∆T = 63.75°C - 34°C
= 29.25°C
∆H = 8.550 kJ
0.0413 mol
= 207.02 kJ/mol
Coffee calorimeter
∆T = 43.5°C – 32.0°C
= 11.5°C
∆H = 2.884 kJ
0.0398 mol
= 72.362 kJmol-1
Copper calorimeter
∆T = 54.5°C - 34°C
= 20.5°C
∆H = 5.891 kJ
0.0398 mol
= 148.015 kJ/mol
Theoretical
Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2(g) ∆H = -461.96 kJ/mol
MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l) → MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq) (reversed) ∆H = 146.96 kJ/mol
H2(g) + 1/2O2(g) → H2O(l) ∆H = -285.9 kJ/mol
Mg(s) + 1/2O2(g) → MgO(s) ∆H = -600.9 kJ/mol
Experimental (Coffee cup calorimeter)
Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2(g) ∆H = -291.477 kJ/mol
MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l) → MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq) (reversed) ∆H = 72.362 kJ/mol
H2(g) + 1/2O2(g) → H2O(l) ∆H = -285.9 kJ/mol
Mg(s) + 1/2O2(g) → MgO(s) ∆H = -505.015 kJ/mol
In this experiment, we have compared the heat capacities of a coffee cup calorimeter and
a copper calorimeter by using the formula, qcal = Ccal(Tf –Tc). The heat capacity of copper
calorimeter is 78.38 J°C-1 which is higher than the heat capacity of coffee cup calorimeter,
48.1 J°C-1. This is because the temperature changes of copper calorimeter is smaller than that
in coffee cup calorimeter. Based on the formula, q = C∆T, we know that the heat capacity (C)
increases when temperature changes (∆T) decreases as ∆T is inversely proportional to C.
The percentage error of copper calorimeter is higher than the coffee cup calorimeter.
The percentage error of coffee cup calorimeter is 16.92% while the percentage error of
copper calorimeter is 42.71%. There are some factors that may affect the results when
handling this experiment. The instruments used are very important to be fixed properly. So
that it would not affect the value that we calculated. For examples, if the lid of the coffee cup
has a hole that can make the heat loss to the surrounding faster than usual. Hence, the value
of temperature we get are quite different from the actual. Besides, there will be parallax error
when we took the reading of the thermometer as the eyes of the observer are not in the correct
position. After that, the temperature recorded may not in line with the time intervals that has
been set. To overcome all these errors that may affect the results, the eyes of the observer
should be perpendicular to the reading scale of the thermometer. Then, the lid of the coffee
cup calorimeter must be in a good condition where there is no hole so that heat could not be
escaped. The time read and record the temperature must be estimated correctly with the time
intervals so that we could have the correct temperature.
The standard enthalpy of formation of coffee cup calorimeter is higher than that of copper
calorimeter. The change of temperature in copper calorimeter is higher than that in coffee cup
calorimeter because the heat is loss to the surrounding is more in copper calorimeter. Based
on the formula q = mc∆T, the heat of reaction ,q increases when the temperature changes, ∆T
increases as q is directly proportional to ∆T. The standard enthalpy, ∆H increases when the
heat of reaction, q increases as ∆H is directly proportional to q by referring to the formula ∆H
= q/n.
CONCLUSIONS
1. The heat capacity of copper calorimeter is higher than the heat capacity of coffee cup
calorimeter.
2. The standard enthalpy of formation of magnesium oxide, ∆H°f in coffee cup
calorimeter is -72.362 kJmol-1 and standard enthalpy of formation of magnesium
oxide, ∆H°f in copper calorimeter is -148.015 kJ/mol.
REFERENCES
1. Arther Adamson (1970). A Textbook of Physical Chemistry, 2th Edition, Academic
Press.
2. Shoemaker, D.P. (1989). Experiments in Phisical Chemistry, International Edition.
McGraw-Hill.
3. Laidler, Keith (1993). The World of Physical Chemistry, 2th Edition, Oxford
University Press.
4. http://faculty.cbu.ca/chowley/chem1104lab/CalorimetryHO.pdf
QUESTIONS
1. a) Which of the two calorimeters: coffee cup calorimeter or copper calorimeter has s
higher heat capacity?
Copper calorimeter
b) What conclusion can you make regarding the relationship of heat capacity of
calorimeter with temperature change of the reactions?
↑q = C∆T↓. The heat capacity of calorimeter increases when the temperature change
of the reactions decreases.
2. For the following problems, assume that the volume of the final solution is 200cm3,
the density of the solution is 1.00gmL-1 and the specific heat capacity of the solution
is the same as the water (4.184Jg-1°C) .
= 0.0200 mol Ca
1 mol of Ca = 1 mol of CaCl2 2 mol of HCl = 1 mol of MgCl
0.0200 mol Ca = 0.0200 mol CaCl2 0.1000 mol HCl = 0.0500 mol MgCl2
Ca is the limiting reactant
∆T = 13.0°C
qreaction = mc∆T
= (200g)(4.18g-1°C-1)(13.0°C)
= 10.868 kJ
∆Hrxn = 10.868 kJ
0.0200 mol
= -543.40 kJ/mol
b) When 1.12g of CaO is added to 200cm3 of 0.500 M HCl(aq) according to the
method described in Procedure B, a temperature increase of 4.62°C is observed.
What is ∆Hrxn at room temperature of the reaction CaO(s) + 2H+ (aq)?
∆T = 4.62°C
qreaction = mc∆T
= (200g)(4.18g-1°C-1)(4.62°C)
=3.862 kJ
∆Hrxn = 3.862 kJ
0.0294 mol
= -131.36 kJ/mol
3. A student carelessly inserts the thermometer while assembling the coffee cup
calorimeter and a large hole is torn in the plastid lid. How will this affect his
experimental results?
The heat of water will loss to the surrounding through the large hole. Hence, it will
affect the temperature of hot water to be decreased faster than usual. Thus, the
temperature change will be increased.