Method: To determine the enthalpy change for a reaction the heat released or absorbed by the reaction must be measured. When an exothermic reaction occurs in a container, the heat which is released warms up the container and its contents. The contents include the reaction products and the solvent if it is present. The container used for this measurement is called a calorimeter. The amount of heat energy released into this calorimeter by the reaction (qp) is related to its change in temperature by the equation:
qp = (Cp(cal))*(mass(cal))*(DT) + (Cp(contents))*(mass(contents)*(DT) (1)
where Cp(cal) is the specific heat of the calorimeter (J/g-°C)
Cp(contents) is the specific heat of the contents (J/g-°C)
DT is the temperature change (°C)
The experiment is carried out by mixing the reactants (Mg(s) and HCl(aq)) in the calorimeter and measuring the change in the calorimeter temperature. The specific heat and mass of the resulting solution are known. The specific heat of the calorimeter is unique for each calorimeter and must be measured. For convenience the mass and specific heat are combined into one factor, the heat capacity (= Cp(cal)*mass(cal)). Using the measured heat capacity of the calorimeter, the temperature change, and the values for the specific heat and mass of the final solution, the total heat released can be calculated using the equation above. The heat which would be released for one mole of magnesium is calculated and represents the DH° for the reaction.
Procedure
Note: Please work in pairs for this experiment.
Heat Capacity of Calorimeter--For this procedure, two calorimeters are used. Each consists of two nested styrofoam cups, a cover, and a thermometer as shown in the figure.
1. Immerse both thermometers into a beaker of water and read the temperature on each to 0.1oC. If they do not agree, the difference in the readings is the correction which must be applied to one of the thermometers each time a reading is recorded. For example, if both thermometers are placed in the same water and thermometer A reads 25.1 oC, and thermometer B reads 25.3oC, then to each reading of thermometer A add 0.2oC as a correction.
2. Using a graduated cylinder, measure 50.0 ml of room temperature tap water into one calorimeter and 50.0 ml of water which has been heated to about 45 oC into the other. At one minute intervals measure and record the temperatures of both calorimeters. At the fourth minute pour the warm water into the calorimeter containing the cold water. Read and record the temperature at minutes 5, 6 and 7. Repeat this entire procedure a second time.
The heat capacity of the calorimeter is calculated by comparing the heat lost by the warm water to the heat gained by the cold water. Any difference between these values represents heat lost or gained by the calorimeter. To determine the temperature changes, plot on graph paper the temperatures of the water at each time you recorded it and extrapolate to the mixing time (4.0 minutes). Several plots can be put on the same graph by off-setting the points. An example of this computation is shown below.
heat lost by warm water (7.9°C)(50.0g)(4.18 J/g°C) = 1651J
heat gained by cool water (5.0°C)(50.0g)(4.18J/g-°C) = 1045J heat lost to cool water calorimeter = 606J
heat capacity of cool water calorimeter (606J/5.0°C) = 121 J/°C
For every degree increase in temperature of a solution in the calorimeter, 121 joules are absorbed by the calorimeter. Calculate the heat capacity of your calorimeter from your two sets of data and determine the average value.
[Waste disposal: Pour excess HCl solution and completed reaction solutions into the drain. Put the excess magnesium into the trash bins, not in the liquid waste container].
1. Use a balance to weigh 0.50 g of magnesium turnings (Mg) onto a piece of weighing paper or into a disposable weighing boat. Use a spatula to do this so that you do not touch the magnesium. Oily residue from your hands will inhibit the reaction with acid. Place all of the magnesium into the calibrated calorimeter.
2. Using a graduated cylinder, measure out 100.0 ml of 1.0 M HCl and measure its temperature. Assuming that the HCl solution, the calorimeter and the magnesium metal are all at the same temperature, this is also the initial temperature of the calorimeter. Pour the HCl solution into the calorimeter. While stirring gently with your thermometer, measure and record the temperature immediately after mixing and then every 15 seconds thereafter until the temperature reaches a maximum and declines for two consecutive time intervals. Be certain that you record the maximum temperature even if it occurs at mid-interval.
Clean and dry your apparatus and repeat the experiment a second time.
3. For each trial, calculate the total heat released during the reaction of 0.50 g of magnesium using Equation 1. In this equation the value of DT is the difference between the initial and maximum temperatures. The mass of the contents is calculated from the volume of HCl solution (100.0 ml) times its density (1.015 g/ml) plus the mass of the magnesium (0.50 g). The specific heat of the resulting MgCl2 solution is 3.97 J/g°C. Use the average of your experimental values for the heat capacity of your calorimeter.
4. Calculate the average heat released by the reaction and the DHo for the reaction in kilojoules per mole of magnesium.
Sample Data and Calculation Format
1. Heat capacity of calorimeter