General Chemistry I

(CHM115)

Experiment 6

Calorimetry

Equipment: Balance, thermometer, two Styrofoam cups, cup covers,

forceps, 800 mL beakers, 250 ml beaker, 50 mL graduated
cylinder, spatula, magnetic stir bar, Hot plate stirrer.

Chemical materials: Ammonium chloride powder, Barium hydroxide powder,

magnesium metal, magnesium oxide powder, hydrochloric
acid, sodium hydroxide, and distilled water.

Requirements: Students must always follow the safety instructions stated

in the “Lab Instructions” file. Theoretical part to be studied
from the text book Chapter 6; Sections: 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 and
6.5.
 Hazards

Equipment:

• Glassware: Cuts from damaged or broken glass.

• Lab ware
▪ Analytical Balance: Electricity hazards; faults which could cause fires, contact with live
parts causing shock and burns, explosion where electricity could be the source of ignition in
a potentially flammable or explosive atmosphere.
▪ Hotplate: Electricity hazards; faults which could cause fires, contact with live parts causing
shock and burns, explosion where electricity could be the source of ignition in a potentially
flammable or explosive atmosphere.

Chemical Materials:

• Hydrochloric Acid: Very hazardous in case of skin contact, eye contact or ingestion (corrosive,
irritant). Slightly hazardous in case of inhalation (lung sensitizer). Non-corrosive for lungs.
• Sodium Hydroxide: Very hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive, irritant, permeator), of
eye contact (irritant, corrosive), of ingestion, of inhalation. Eye contact can result in corneal
damage or blindness. Skin contact can produce inflammation and blistering.
• Barium Hydroxide: Hazardous in case of skin contact or eye contact (irritant). Very hazardous
in case of ingestion (irritant), of inhalation (irritant). Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact
(permeator).
• Magnesium oxide: Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact, eye contact, ingestion or
inhalation (irritant).
• Ammonium Chloride: Hazardous in case of eye contact (irritant). Slightly hazardous in case of
skin contact (irritant, sensitizer), of ingestion, of inhalation.
• Magnesium metal: Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant),
of ingestion, of inhalation.

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Introduction:

Calorimetry is the science associated with the determination of

changes in energy of a system that is exchanged with another
system or surrounding.

In the case of a substance, with a known mass and specific heat

capacity, which undergoes heat exchange with another system
(or surrounding), energy lost or gained (transferred) can be
calculated by measuring the change in its temperature following
the formula:

q = m . c . ΔT

q: amount of heat transferred (lost or gained)

m: mass of the substance
c: Specific heat capacity of the substance
ΔT: Change in temperature of substance (ΔT > 0, reaction is exothermic, if ΔT < 0 reaction is
endothermic)

For processes that take place at constant pressure, the heat transferred (qp) is often measured in a coffee-
cup calorimeter. The solid (the system) is weighed, and added to a substance with known mass and
temperature like water (surroundings) in the calorimeter. After stirring, the final water temperature is
measured (using thermometer), which is also the final temperature of the solid. Assuming no heat
escapes the calorimeter, the heat released by the system (– q reaction) is equal to the heat absorbed by
the surroundings (+q solution) but opposite in sign.

q aqueaus solution = - q Reaction (system)

And,

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Experiments:

I. Determination of molar heat change (∆H in kJ/mole) of the reaction of HCl and NaOH
solutions.
II. Determination of molar heat change (∆H in kJ/mole) of the reaction of NH4Cl and Ba(OH)2
solutions.
III. Determination of the molar heat change (∆H in kJ/mole) of the reaction of MgO and HCl
IV. Determination of the molar heat change (∆H in kJ/mole) of the reaction of Mg and HCl

Note that you’ll perform only two reactions given in your Lab Report

Approximations:

Since the solutions are dilute, assume that:

The solutions containing HCl, NaOH and NH4Cl have the same specific heat capacity of water = 4.18 J
g-1K-1.
The density of water and that of the aqueous solutions = 1.00 g mL-1.

Coffee-Cup Calorimeter set up at

our Lab:

A Hot Plate Stirrer C

B

B Beaker A D

C Two Styrofoam cups F

D Styrofoam cup Cover

E Magnetic Stirrer

F Thermometer

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Reaction I: Determination of molar heat change (∆H in kJ/mole) of the reaction of
HCl and NaOH solutions

Experimental Procedure:

1. Put two Styrofoam coffee cups inside one another.

2. Place a magnetic bar inside the Styrofoam cups.

3. Place them on the magnetic stirrer plate.

4. Using the graduated cylinder, accurately measure X mL of the HCl solution and add it to the

calorimeter.

5. Get a perforated cover. Insert a thermometer through the hole gently and

lower it so that the whole bulb is covered with the solution but not hitting the

stirring bar.

6. Turn on the magnetic stirrer plate at 200 RPM by pressing on the STIR

button (DO NOT TOUCH the heat button).

7. Allow the thermometer to sit in the solution for 1 minute then record the

initial temperature (Ti) in the report.

8. Using the graduated cylinder, accurately measure Y mL of the NaOH solution.

9. Add the NaOH solution to the to the HCl solution that is already in the calorimeter and quickly

cover it.

10. Keep the calorimeter cup on the stirrer. Set the timer for 2 minutes, then record the final

temperature (Tf). Record your data in the report.

11. Turn off the stirrer, empty and clean the calorimeter.

12. Calculate the heat change of the aqueous solution. Record your data in the report.

13. Calculate the heat change of the reaction. Record your data in the report.

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Reaction II: Determination of molar heat change (∆H in kJ/mole) of the reaction of
NH4Cl and Ba(OH)2 solutions

Experimental Procedure:

1. Put two Styrofoam coffee cups inside one another.

2. Place a magnetic bar inside the Styrofoam cups.

3. Place them on the magnetic stirrer plate.

4. Weigh X g of ammonium chloride and dissolve it in Y mL of distilled water

in the small beaker.

5. Pour the solution from the beaker into the coffee cup calorimeter.

6. Get a perforated cover. Insert a thermometer through the hole gently and lower it into the cup

through the cover hole so that the whole bulb is covered with the solution but make sure that it is not

hit by the stirring bar.

7. Turn on the magnetic stirrer at 200 RPM by pressing on the STIR button (DO NOT TOUCH the

heat button).

8. Allow the thermometer to sit in the solution for 1 minute and record the initial temperature (Ti),

Record your data in the report.

9. Weigh Z g of barium hydroxide and add them to the calorimeter cup and quickly cover it.

10. Keep the calorimeter cup on the stirrer, Set the timer for 2 minutes, and then record the final

temperature (Tf) in the report.

11. Turn off the stirrer, empty and clean the calorimeter.

12. Calculate the heat change of the aqueous solution. Record your data in the report.

13. Calculate the heat change of the reaction. Record your data in the report.

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Reaction III: Determination of the molar heat change (∆H in kJ/mole) of the
reaction of magnesium oxide and HCL solution

Experimental Procedure:

Repeat steps 1 to 3 in part I

1. Using the graduated cylinder, accurately measure X mL of the HCl solution and add it to the

calorimeter.

2. Turn on the magnetic stirrer at 200 RPM by pressing on the STIR button (DO NOT TOUCH the

heat button).

3. Allow the thermometer to sit in the solution for 1 minute and record the initial temperature Ti in the

report.

4. Weigh Y grams of Magnesium Oxide powder (MgO).

5. Add the weighed MgO to the calorimeter and quickly cover it.

6. Keep the calorimeter cup on the stirrer. Set the timer for 2 minutes, and then record the final

temperature (Tf) in the report (make sure the solid has completely dissolved).

7. Turn off the stirrer, empty and clean the calorimeter.

8. Determine the ΔH of the reaction. Record your data in the report.

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Reaction IV: Determination of the molar heat change (∆H in kJ/mole) of the
reaction of magnesium metal and HCL solution

Experimental Procedure:

Repeat steps 1 to 3 in part I

1. Using the graduated cylinder, accurately measure X mL of the HCl solution and add it to the

calorimeter.

2. Turn on the magnetic stirrer at 200 RPM by pressing on the STIR button (DO NOT TOUCH the

heat button).

3. Allow the thermometer to sit in the solution for 1 minute and record the initial temperature (Ti) in

the report.

4. Twist then add the Y g Magnesium metal to the calorimeter (all at once) and quickly cover it.

5. Keep the calorimeter cup on the stirrer. Set the timer for 2 minutes, and then record the final

temperature (Tf) in the report.

6. Turn off the stirrer, empty and clean the calorimeter.

9. Determine the ΔH of the reaction. Record your data in the report.

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 Cleaning up Steps

1. Turn off the hotplate, unplug it from electricity

2. Turn off the balance
3. Dispose all used aqueous chemicals in the sink
4. Dispose the magnesium metal in the trash can
5. Recap all chemicals stock bottles directly after use
6. Rinse the Styrofoam coffee cups, spatula and the magnetic stirrer with tap water
7. Rinse the thermometer by distilled water
8. Rinse the beaker and the graduated cylinder in tap water
9. Reorganize all used chemical bottles and glassware on the bench
10. Return your chair back

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 Waste Disposal Methods
Name Description Where to dispose
Weighing papers Weighing paper used in
mass weighing of powders
Damaged Styrofoam in reactions
cups
Styrofoam cups used in
Calorimetry reactions 1 and
2 steps 1 dispose if
damaged

Contaminated solid waste trash

bin

1 M HCl Reactions I, III, IV Acid

Solutions

Acid waste container

*N.B. follow Lab Instructor
guidelines
0.5 M NaOH Reaction I Base Solution
Barium hydroxide
Magnesium oxide

Base waste container

*N.B. follow Lab Instructor
guidelines

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Ammonium chloride Reaction II Ammonium
chloride solution

Precipitation waste container

*N.B. follow Lab Instructor
guidelines

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